




Class TZ 5 

Book , E_ 4 6 *j Vv 

Copyright N° 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 


* 









































/ 



































































































































































' 









































































































* 


THE WRONG WAY 

¥ 

cA Story 

By ", 

ROBERT ELLIOTT 

¥ 

NEW YORK? 

THE M. W. HAZEN COMPANY 


/ 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 10 1904 

Copyrignt Entry 

CUc^X9. /9o9- 

CLASS* CL XXc. NOi 

9 d 

COPY B. 


3 ^ 


4 


Copyright, 1904, 

By M. W. HAZEN 


< (October) 

‘ c * * 


THE WRONG WAY 


i 

Grace Larch was standing at one of the front win- 
dows, one hand holding back the lace curtain. She was 
looking at the limited scene stretched before her — a 
wide, ill-kept country street. 

The houses on either side of the way were unpre- 
tentious frame structures with considerable space laid 
out in gardens. There were no railings nor gates, so 
the general effect was rather pleasing. Great elms 
bordered the sidewalks and surrounded the houses. 
These fine, old trees were now gorgeous under the 
caress of autumn, and their brilliant colors glorified 
the unpretentious houses, and the wide, ill-kept street. 

The room in which she stood was one of those 
shabby-genteel parlors so often seen in the homes of 
every-day, average people. The floor was covered with 
a worn moquette carpet, which perhaps had once been 
rich and pretty.' Here and there were spread ugly 
imitation Turkish rugs, a plain attempt at the artistic 
and the useful, for they concealed patches and darns 
that might have given offense. Easy chairs hung with 
scented bags and embroidered draperies filled the 
space. In one corner was a wide lounge covered 
with cretonne and a mass of pillows; in another an 
upright piano; in the third, a cheap easel, ebonized 
by Cecily Larch, upon which rested a bad copy of 
5 


6 


THE WRONG WAY 


Millet’s “ L’ Angelus ” — of course. The walls were 
hung with plaques of impossible pansies, sunflowers 
heavily framed in dark-colored velvets, and a large 
study of pink roses on a glaring background of blue; 
innumerable photographs of smiling girls and babies; 
sprays of autumn leaves; cotillion favors; ribbons; 
banners; and odds and ends of every description. 

The two front windows and the bay window at 
the side were draped with Nottingham lace curtains. 
Gypsy tables and etageres, and hanging book-shelves 
filled in what space was left. Every thing in the room 
was cheap and tawdry, except the girl at the window 
and a middle-aged woman, who lay on the aforesaid 
lounge. One hundred dollars would have more than 
covered the cost of the furniture and other effects in 
that parlor. 

It was essentially a woman’s room. The scented 
bags, the embroidered draperies, and ribbons were 
redolent of violet. There was not one chair in which 
a man could seat himself with any feeling of comfort 
or safety. He might feel at ease on the lounge, per- 
haps, but Mrs. Larch always appropriated that article 
herself, because it was comfortable and picturesquely 
placed, and just the point for her lazy airs and graceful 
poses. No one else by any lucky chance ever secured it. 

The girl stood at the window and looked at the zig- 
zag streaks of sunset color lingering in the evening sky. 
Far up in the heavens pale stars twinkled a greeting. 
She was tall and slim, and finely formed. Her face, 
though not ravishing or remarkable in its beauty, was 
of the kind that arrested attention. It was a dark, 
colorless oval face, the eyes large and dusky — rare, 


. THE WRONG WAY 


7 


tender eyes forsooth — and the hair, eyebrows and eye- 
lashes were brown enough to be called black by cour- 
tesy. A nameless air about her plain gray cloth gown, 
the manner in which she stood, the poise of the head 
— each was a passport to favor and a guarantee of 
distinction. 

The woman on the sofa was pretty and young in 
the half-light. She had a piquant face, cunning dim- 
ples, and soft, fluffy, brown hair that curled about her 
well-shaped head like a child's. There were diamonds 
in her ears, at her throat, and on her fingers — indeed 
the dainty little hands blazed with gems. She had on 
a tea gown of pale blue — the delicate shade which 
mothers like to put on their babies — elaborately 
trimmed with white lace and satin ribbons. Even to 
the uninitiated the costume and the jewels represented 
a tidy sum of money. This was one of those women 
who always have what they wish, irrespective of the 
claims of others. If her own tastes and caprices were 
in question, money was not spared nor considered. Her 
notion was that the world owed her a living, and a soft, 
good living at that, and she was determined to have it 
regardless of cost, or what she would term, sentiment. 
Under the pretty, delicate, caressing exterior there 
lurked a spirit of such iron power, such determination 
that everything had to give way to it. She always 
had her way. Sometimes people knew that she did; 
more frequently they did not. However, that made 
little real difference; she never gave in, and naturally 
her persistence, her obstinacy carried the day. Obsti- 
nate people always have their way, and if that alone 
could bestow it, theirs should be the happiest lot in life. 


8 


THE WRONG WAY 


After awhile Grace let the curtain fall, and came 
across the room, stopping at the lounge in the shadowy 
corner. Her walk was easy, graceful, dignified — just 
what might have been expected from the owner of that 
interesting and intellectual face. With a gesture, which 
was the embodiment of grace, she sat down upon a 
hassock at the side of the lounge. 

“ At last! You have really remembered that I am 
in the room, ,, Mrs. Larch said, in her purring way, 
which was one of her most strongly-marked traits; 
“ It amused me to watch you, Grace dear. You were 
truly charming — for once. And you know you are 
not often charming. I am a woman, so I do not hesi- 
tate to tell the truth. Besides being a woman, I am 
also your step-mother, and consequently my veracity 
is to be depended upon. And, my dear, I have no 
reason for flattering you.” 

In her caressing way she could say the most annoy- 
ing, disagreeable, and insulting things. And she 
always said whatever she liked to say; her tongue was 
given full sway at all times and in all places. 

“ Yes, I have been watching you/’ she continued, 
smiling into the face before her; “ there is no detective 
like a member of one’s own family. I have been 
watching you all day. You have been in one of your 
moods. It might be called dreamy, sad — well, any- 
thing interesting, by an outsider. But I have quite a 
different name for it. Never mind what it is; I shall 
not tell.” 

The girl said nothing. She sat there in silence, 
looking at the pretty hands and the flashing rings 
before her. 


THE WRONG WAY 


9 


“ You have been positively interesting to-day. I 
almost said provoking. The other word is prettier, 
isn’t it? You have been silent, thoughtful — and 
important. There is something on your mind, and 
you may as well tell me what it is.” 

Still Grace said nothing; she had not taken her 
eyes off the diamonds, sparkling in the twilight. 

“ Come, dear, this is the witching hour — the time 
for confidences. Do you not mean to confide in me? 
A girl’s best friend is her mother. I have been your 
mother these eighteen years.” 

The girl smiled to herself in the dark. She did not 
speak. 

Mrs. Larch sat up and, bending over, laid her soft, 
round cheek against her step-daughter’s head. It was 
an effective pose. 

“ I am positive you have something to tell me,” she 
whispered; “ I have felt so from the time you kissed 
me good-morning at breakfast, up to now. Come! 
Here — heart to heart — is there not something to tell 
me? ” 

“ Yes. And I wonder if you will be surprised. I 
was. I have had the thought that you knew. But I 
may be mistaken. Few people think alike, after all. 
Why should we? ” 

“ Do not be provoking. I am inquisitive; I know 
you have something to tell me. You dear girl — you 
know that I am the kind of woman who delights in 
secrets. So, you have one? I was sure you had. You 
could not have acted as you have done, if this had not 
been a question of importance.” 

There was a pause. She waited in her fetching pose 


10 


THE WRONG WAY 


— her dimpled cheek still rested against the girl’s head. 

“ I dislike conjectures; tell me what it is outright.” 

“ Mr. Duncan has asked me to be his wife.” 

She suddenly sat bolt upright in the dark ; involun- 
tarily she pressed both hands over her heart. Grace 
could not see her expression, nor did she observe the 
movement. 

“ Mr. Duncan has asked you to be his wife! ” she 
exclaimed with a little sharp cry; “ he loves you? I 
am surprised to hear it. So this is what has been on 
your mind all day? No wonder you were so odd. He 
wants to marry you ? How very strange ! ” 

“ Is it not ? I cannot understand it, and I agree 
with you in your surprise.” 

Mrs. Larch said nothing further; she still sat 
upright with her hands pressed against her side. 

“ But you no doubt have noticed his behavior of 
late. He has been so much with us. Nearly every 
week he has been to Tenbrook on some pretext or 
other.” 

Of course she had noted it; but with this difference, 
she had attributed Duncan’s obvious attentions to 
quite another person. 

“ He has been conspicuously kind and attentive to 
our family. I could not blind myself to anything so 
apparent. But I have wondered at his great kindness 
to me, a poor girl, whose beauty is a subject of doubt 
to all her friends. He loves me! There is the plain 
fact. How can any man love Grace Larch ? ” 

There was an impatient gesture from the lounge. 

“ You need not adopt the ^sensitive role when with 
me,” the woman said with intentional cruelty; “I 


THE WRONG WAY 


11 


know you, and you know me. You are worthy of 
Duncan’s love, or any man’s love for that matter. 
Any woman is. You know my opinion of men. It 
is not strange that he should want to marry you. With 
him, as with the general run of men, it is, I suppose, 
any woman, so long as it is a woman. It is the most 
natural thing in the world that he should want to 
marry. But as to his loving you — why that is another 
matter. He is old enough to know better.” 

She forgot that she was contradicting herself; but 
this is a peculiarity of those people who allow them- 
selves the luxury of talking too much, and one in 
keeping with her character, which was one of con- 
tradiction. 

“ Shall I light the lamp?” the girl asked with a 
gay laugh, and rising; “ it is past seven o’clock.” 

“ Not yet. It is pleasant to sit in the dark and talk 
with you, dear. Does that not go without saying? 
Come, you have not told me enough. I want to know 
how he proposed. Men are absurd at such moments. 
I could tell you some ludicrous proposals, ludicrous in 
the way the men went about them, in my own life, if 
I cared to reveal the past.” 

Her step-daughter was silent. The proposal of a 
good man was a sacred thing to her, and not to be 
gossiped about to a third person. 

“ You will have to tell it. I shall not let up until 
you do, no matter how much you force me to drive 
you. You are so queer about some things. I dare 
say you have some silly notion about the honor of the 
thing. Well, I have not. I know that men talk women 
over, when together, in the freest, most barefaced way, 


12 


THE WRONG WAY 


and that too in regard to our most intimate relations 
with them. You may as well begin. You must tell 
me the old, sweet story, of which we women never 
weary/’ 

“ If I must, I must.” 

She leaned against the mantel-piece while she spoke, 
having left the lounge. 

“ I went to walk yesterday afternoon in the woods 
at the other end of town. It is my usual walk when 
I am out for pleasure and exercise, as you know. Well, 
I ran across Mr. Duncan as soon as I had gotten into 
the woods. I was walking slowly, brushing the fra- 
grant fallen leaves underfoot as I walked. I had no 
idea that he was anywhere near. But there he was, 
seated on a huge rock overhanging the brook. He was 
throwing dead leaves into it and watching them car- 
ried away. He did not appear surprised to see me. 
I now think he was in that exact spot on purpose. I 
know I have often mentioned it as being a favorite 
of mine. On seeing me, he sprang to his feet, and 
came to where I stood. He was eager, and held out 
his right hand. As I took it, he said : ‘ Miss Larch, 
I am very glad you have come, for I have something 
to tell you. I have been waiting here to see you.’ I 
laughed, and said, that I hoped it was nothing sad or 
serious. And as I spoke, I remembered that he had 
stopped calling me Grace. You know that it was 
always Grace, and never Miss Larch — except latterly. 
He smiled at me, and replied that it was a serious mat- 
ter to him, but by no means sad, and that he trusted it 
would be serious with me, too. Even then I did not 
suspect his meaning. In a quick, direct way he told 


THE WRONG WAY 


13 


me that he loved me. He said he had been coming to 
Tenbrook the past year solely because he wanted me 
to marry him. He had always loved me, but during 
this time he realized that he loved me in but one way, 
and that he had studied me with a view of proposing 
in the end. He asked me to think the matter over. 
He would not take his answer then. I am to see him 
to-morrow. We talked some time — or rather he did, 
telling me of his home, of his business and his position. 
I finally got away. I left him standing under the trees 
watching me on my homeward way with love-lit eyes. 
He may be there still, for all I know to the contrary.” 

Her listener breathed a sigh whose intensity ex- 
pressed her interest and attention. 

“ It was not romantic/’ she said gayly; “it was 
prosaic instead. And that is the way with elderly men. 
There is no romance in them.” 

“Well, I do not know,” the girl said; “it seems 
most romantic to me. At least the scene could not have 
been more romantic surely. The autumn world seemed 
to speak for him. The very babbling of the brook as 
it ran over the mossy rocks in its bed was, I fancied, 
in sympathy with the story, and sang to me : ' Love 

him, love him, love him/ At that moment I did not 
appear to be Grace Larch. There was another girl in 
her place. I was excited; I was touched; and I pleaded 
with myself in his behalf. Do all girls feel so when 
men propose to them ? ” 

“ Duncan is an elderly man.” 

“ I know he is. You have alluded to his age once 
or twice already.” 

“ I should not have thought that he desired a young 


14 


THE WRONG WAY 


wife/’ Mrs. Larch said with sarcasm. She could not 
help it. Her lute-like tones had changed for the mo- 
ment. One cannot be on guard all the time. 

“ Yes; he is elderly. I believe he is fifty years old, 
but old men make the best of husbands, do they not? 
It is better to be an old man's darling than a young 
man's slave." 

“ No doubt, dear, an old man would love and cher- 
ish his wife. Younger men love with ardor, impetu- 
osity, and spirit, while the fever is on. The fever, 
however, does not last. All men are more or less 
inconstant in love, according to my thinking." 

Grace laughed. 

“ You have not said what you intend to do — what 
answer you mean to give him to-morrow. Of course 
you do not love him?" She waited a moment, but 
there was no response. 

“ It is impossible that you should love him. I do not 
wish to influence you in any way. Perhaps you would 
blame me in after days if I did. Here is a matter of 
moment, in which you stand alone, and in which you 
must act as you deem best, I have nothing to say about 
it. You must not let me influence you." 

“ I will not. There is but one answer I can give 
him." 

“ That is?" 

“ No." 

“ The cold, cruel, little word — no ! " 

Was it merely idle fancy on the girl's part, or did 
her step-mother really start with relief and pleasure? 
The purring voice was certainly glad and animated 
when she spoke again. 


THE WRONG WAY 


15 


“ Dear, it is as I expected. I knew you never would 
marry Duncan. You are too good, and too noble to 
marry for mere money or position. Love after all is 
greater than money and position; and yet it is good 
to have both." 

Grace lighted the lamp and adjusted the huge, im- 
possible paper poppy which was fastened to the same 
as a shade. 

“ I rather dread seeing him. I like him too well to 
wish to cause him pain and disappointment. But no 
more of him! We have settled his suit, as far as I 
am concerned, forever." 

“ I would not be so sure, dear. Have we really set- 
tled it ? Bear in mind that he is a man, therefore per- 
sistent. Men do not at once relinquish that which 
they set their hearts on having. I think I know some*- 
thing of men." 

“ It is settled as far as I am concerned. I do not 
love him, and therefore I will not marry him. He 
cannot make me do it, if I do not wish." 

Mrs. Larch smiled in a somewhat knowing way, 
and put on a bright, arch air. 

“ You do not know men as I know them. How- 
ever, each woman has to buy her own experience of 
them. I hope you will not have to pay too high a 
price for yours. I paid well for mine." 

“ At times I really think that I shall never, never 
marry," the girl said in a slow, grave way; “ mar- 
riage does not seem to me to be the alpha and omega 
of a woman’s life. So far, I have gone without the 
male element, and I feel that I could go on so indefi- 
nitely, quite well pleased. I am able to work. I am 


16 


THE WRONG WAY 


able to fight the battle for and by myself — and I would 
begin to do it to-morrow, if you would not oppose it.” 

“ Do not let us get to that again ! ” was the impa- 
tient retort; “ it is absurd. I hoped you had given up 
the idea, knowing how much your sister and I object 
to it. It is repugnant to us, and as there is no need 
whatever of your working, I shall never agree to it. 
We have always been counted a genteel family, and 
that you should lower us to the rank of wage-workers 
is really something we will not submit to.” 

“ But I fail to see—” 

“ There, discussion is useless. I have no taste for 
argument. I will not be bullied into arguing this thing 
again. I have done with it. It must be dropped once 
for all.” 

The girl bit her lips until they were white, and said 
nothing. The color rose in her dark cheeks and there 
was a rebellious look in her eye at being so summarily 
silenced. 


II 


Adam Duncan came for his answer at five o’clock the 
afternoon of the next day. 

It was a dreary, rainy day, decidedly unpropitious 
to one bent on a love errand. He, however, was a 
strong, healthy man, who knew what he wanted, and 
weather, fair or foul, never had any effect on him. 
If he gave the rain and mud a thought it was not one 
of annoyance, but rather of satisfaction — indeed they 
were in his favor, for of course Grace Larch would not 
venture out of the house on such a wet day, unless 
forced to do so by some circumstance over which she 
had no control. 

By the way he kicked off his rubbers, shook his um- 
brella, and pulled the bell-knob, one could easily tell 
that he was a man who always had his way, that he 
was quick, ready, assured, and not afraid of anything 
or anybody. On the maid answering the ring, he 
asked for Miss Larch without a trace of embarrass- 
ment. He walked into the parlor with a strength and 
presence that shamed the impossible flower paint- 
ings, the imitation rugs, the execrable copy of the 
“ Angelus,” the beribboned chairs — in fine, all the silly 
feminine odds and ends that Mrs. Larch and Cecily 
had stuck about the room as ornamentation. 

He did not sit down. He knew those chairs of old, 
and, as he was a heavy man and had lively recollec- 
1 ? 


18 


THE WRONG WAY 


tions of his former experiences in them, he preferred 
to stand. 

Duncan was a splendidly formed man of distin- 
guished bearing. He stood six feet three, and the 
breadth of his chest was good to see. The color in 
his face and clear gray eyes gave the lie direct to his 
age, which was fifty years. The straight figure was 
another lie, the thick hair, almost flaxen, still another — 
really there was nothing about him that revealed his 
age. He was simply a magnificent man in health, in 
features and in general appearance. The clothes and 
linen he wore were of the finest texture and cut, and 
bore witness to the pleasing fact that he cared for his 
person in a degree that escaped dandyism, but touched 
fastidiousness, in short, that he had the instincts of a 
gentleman. 

Mrs. Larch and her step-daughter were upstairs in 
the front bedroom sewing, when the bell was heard. 
At its sound, the former dropped her work and looked 
at Grace, and laughed. It was not an agreeable 
laugh, and it was so significant that the girl colored. 

“ There is ‘ Auld Robin Gray/ Grace dear.” 

“ Grace dear ” arose, and carefully folded the cloth 
she had been sewing and, without speaking, put it 
away. 

“ If I dared I would listen at the keyhole, and hear 
what you say to him. But I am too indolent, and 
beside I know you will report to me afterwards.” 

The girl went toward the door in silence. 

“ Give him my love after you have refused him your 
own,” she said, as a parting shot; “ perhaps I shall 
catch him on the rebound — who knows ? And ask him 


THE WRONG WAY 


19 


to stay to tea, for auld lang syne sake. There’s 
deviled ham, also omelet, English muffins, fig cake 
and coffee. Men need to be fortified, you know, after 
being dragged through the vale of humiliation and 
disappointment by women.” 

Grace closed the door upon herself with a little bang, 
but she could not shut out the disagreeable laugh that 
followed the words she had just heard. It rang in 
her ears until she stood at the parlor door. She forgot 
her momentary irritation, however, the instant she 
entered and saw Duncan’s face lighten up in welcome. 
He was a noble, good-looking gentleman, and had 
always been a most kind and gentle friend to her, and 
her people as far back as she could remember. It was 
a pity she was unable to repay his courtesy and kind- 
ness as he wished. 

He took the hand she extended him and, holding it 
in a warm, firm clasp, looked straight at her, then at 
the hand he held, and smiled a tender, beautiful smile. 
He smiled because he found that he was saying this to 
himself : 

The white enchantment of her dimpled hand 

Lay soft in mine ! I looked into her eyes ; 

I knew I was unworthy, but I felt 

That I was noble if she did but smile. 

And she did smile. It seemed so strange that he 
should love her as he yesterday said he did, that he 
should want to marry her, and that she was upon the 
point of informing him it could never be. Indeed it 
was almost presumptuous that she should speak with 
him on such themes as love and marrying at all — he 


20 


THE WRONG WAY 


was so rich, so influential, so much older and more im- 
portant than herself, an ordinary, obscure girl. She 
looked at his broad, white hand, and observed that it 
showed the attention of the best manicure, with the 
hope that he did not give hers as close observation; 
for of course if he did he would see that she had never 
engaged the services of a manicure in her life. 

He had no idea of letting her hand go; he held it 
in his firm, warm clasp, and smiled on. Women were 
dear to him, and though he had gone through many 
years single, unyoked, yet he had loved once or twice — 
well, several times, if the truth must be told. He was 
the kind of man to love women and be loved by them 
more or less ardently in return. Nevertheless, he had 
never wished to be bound to one — until now. He loved 
this woman with the love that meant marriage. There 
are many ways of loving, and all unconsciously Grace 
had been blessed with the best he had to give. 

As he stood holding her hand and gazing at her 
bowed head he thought of the other women that had 
come and gone in his life, realizing that they were 
dead to him forever, and that in the hereafter there 
could be but one woman for him, and she was with 
him now. He yearned for her; through every fibre of 
his being he knew that this was his wife; that without 
hef life would not be what it should be, half its prom- 
ise and glory would surely be gone. To-day he knew 
that Richter was correct in saying that “ no man can 
either live piously or die righteous without a wife ” — 
at least he could not. 

“ Are you going to be my wife? ” he said in a low, 
rich voice, the lover’s voice. 


THE WKONG WAY 


21 


She did not speak at once. Some unknown power 
held her back. 

“ I love you — I love you ! ” he said, and it must be 
admitted — it was beautiful the way he did it. But, as 
if by instinct, men know how to woo; and besides 
instinct, this man had experience. It is said that the 
man that has a tongue is no man if with his tongue he 
cannot win a woman. Duncan meant to try. 

“ My dear girl, I do love you better than anyone I 
ever saw. I think of you constantly, and I want you 
constantly. My whole being cries out for you, and 
only you.” 

She lowered her head a little more. 

“ Come to me, Grace — come to me — my wife ! ” 

He waited a second. However, she did not speak. 

“ I know you have thought it over,” he continued; 
“ as- 1 asked you to do, for I have always known you 
to keep your promises. That is one reason why I love 
you. Good, faithful, conscientious folk are scarce 
nowadays. I am quite sure that you have been think- 
ing of me ever since I spoke to you yesterday — come, 
tell me, have you not? ” 

A pause. 

At last she felt strong enough to look up at him and 
speak — she must speak; for if she did not, he doubtless 
would go on in the strain he had adopted, and there 
was no telling whither she might not be led by it. 
Above anything, in spite of all, a plain duty was before 
her : she must be true to herself. She must not per- 
mit him or anybody else to lead her where she ought 
not to go. It would be better to endure pain and dis- 
appointment now than wretchedness and regret after- 


22 


THE WRONG WAY 


ward. With this one thought clear in her mind, she 
found strength to look up into the cleanly-shaven face 
before her, straight into the shining, smiling gray 
eyes. 

“ Mr. Duncan,” she said; “ I have given my best 
thought to what you proposed yesterday. I have tried 
to be kind and just. Do we not deserve that from 
others? I have thought and thought, and asked my- 
self again and again if I loved you as you deserve to 
be loved, and the answer is always — no.” 

Another pause. 

He did not look pained; he even smiled. 

“ I have an affection for you. You know that. But 
you ask me to marry you, and that is another thing.” 

“ Do I not appeal to you at all? ” 

“ Yes; I confess that I like and respect you; that 
I have ever regarded you as the best of friends, of my 
father’s, of my family’s, and of my own. 

“ Do you love anyone? ” 

“ No.” 

“ Well, could you not — learn to love me? ” 

She was silent. 

“ I have known you many years ; I understand you. 
I love you devotedly. I am confident that I could make 
your married life a beautiful one. I am rich; I have 
every means with which to sweeten life — as you are 
aware. I comprehend and enjoy the things you enjoy. 
Does not your heart tell you so ? For years your father 
and I were tried friends. He would have been happy 
over our marriage — nay, will he not be now? Grace, 
I read your heart. You have not been satisfied for 
some time past. Do not attempt to deny it. I will 


THE WRONG WAY 


23 


not specify the cause or causes; the fact remains, and 
it is enough. My dear girl, you do not want to pass 
all your days in this stupid town surrounded as you 
are — come, you know you do not. Will you let it be 
no then? Suppose we wait awhile — ten days — a 
month — any time you like.” 

a We might wait ten years, and it might be no then. 
Would it be right to become your wife, if I did not 
love you? Without love, what is married life?” 

“ It depends on what love really is. You admit that 
you do not love anybody, that you have an affection 
for me, that you respect me. I ask no more than that. 
Afterwards you will know more about it, and you will 
call it love.” 

“ I cannot say that I love you, Mr. Duncan. It 
would not be true if I did. The friendly regard and 
esteem I entertain for you cannot be called love. And 
I feel that I cannot marry unless I do love. Of course, 
I am a believer in love ; I am a woman ; and naturally 
I have dreamt that some day I want to love, and be 
loved too. Call it a foolish fancy — an idle dream — and 
me a girl of sentimental ideas — if you will; but the 
fact remains unaltered, nevertheless.” 

“ I can win your love, if you will marry me. You 
will love your husband as you dream of loving him. 
Give me the chance, Grace.” 

“ I cannot. Oh, I am sorry that such a thing as this 
could occur between you and me.” 

“ I will not give you up, dear. I will not take no 
for my answer. You must think it over, and I shall 
see you again.” 

‘ “ I realize that you pay me a great honor. Believe 


24 


THE WRONG WAY 


me, I am grateful. But honestly, I can never be more 
to you than a friend — if that is anything to you.” 

“ It is; but you will be something dearer than a 
friend before long. I shall come back to you on the 
same errand.” 

“ I wish to retain your friendship. We all do. One 
does not find real friends every day.” 

“ And one is not loved every day.” 

“ My step-mother told me to say she expected you 
to remain for tea,” Grace said, changing the subject. 

“ It is impossible; for I am obliged to return to New 
York at once, and you know the train leaves just as 
you sit down to supper.” 

“ I am sorry. You will miss seeing Cecily this time. 
But we expect her back soon.” 

“ I am glad that she is to return soon — for your 
sake. You love her so much, and she is the kind of 
girl one misses at home.” 

“ I miss her more than I can tell.” 

“ She is a lively girl,” he further remarked, because 
he was loath to leave, and he knew he was giving pleas- 
ure; “ she is pretty and highly gifted too.” 

Grace flushed with enjoyment. It was always good 
to listen to people praising Cecily. 

“ She was anxious to visit her friend, Ella Barclay, 
of Hartford, and consequently we were glad that she 
could do so. She has been gone three weeks.” 

“ Your sister is going to be a brilliant woman.” 

“ Why, she is already a woman — according to her 
own thinking. She is seventeen, you must remember.” 

“ She is a lovely girl, with madcap tendencies. I 
am continually expecting a practical joke at her hands.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


25 


The girl laughed, and felt better than she had done 
for several days past. For a moment she thought she 
really liked this man very much. 

“ Cecily loves fun/' she said brightly; “and keeps 
us amused. You know that a merry heart does good 
like a medicine.” 

“ A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market, 
if you believe Charles Lamb,” he rejoined, holding out 
his hand; “I must say good-by now. Think of me, 
Grace.” 

“Will you not let me call my step-mother? She 
would like to see you.” 

“ No. Please bid her good-by for me. I have 
barely time to go to the hotel and then catch my train. 
Think of me, dear, and try to see the way clear to 
telling me what I want to hear so much on my return. 
Remember that I love you with a love that can never 
grow cold and die.” 

She gave him her hand with one word : 

“ Farewell!” 

He took it, and almost embraced her in the old, 
familiar way, for he had been coming to and going 
from their house for years and had been a staunch 
friend of the family. But the relationship had, at least 
for these two, undergone a change, and the former 
ways of meeting and parting were out of the question. 
It was merely a handshake and a word now. 

She went to the window and looked at him going 
through the rain. He was strong and good; he was 
generous and kindhearted, and handsome and distin- 
guished in appearance. Life with this man would be 
easy, pleasant, noble, no doubt, and many a woman 


26 


THE WRONG WAY 


would be glad to marry him and lead it; but she did 
not love him. Her pulse never quickened at his com- 
ing, nor grew dull at his going. He was only a true, 
dear friend — nothing more. And the wind sighed 
through the leafless trees and around the house, and 
the rain came pouring down. And she stood there at 
the wet window looking down the wide street, some 
time after she had seen the last of him, thinking, 
thinking. 


Ill 


Grace was not allowed to stand and dream at the win- 
dow long. She was aroused and her thoughts dis- 
pelled by the entrance of her step-mother, who looked 
pretty and youthful and chic in a new house dress. As 
soon as she had gotten fairly into the room she looked 
about the place in an expectant way. 

“Where is 'Mr. Duncan?” she asked sharply; 
“surely you have not permitted him to go?” 

“ I could not get him to stay. I asked him to do so. 
I gave him your invitation, but he would not accept it.” 

“No doubt — in the way it was extended. I know 
your ways. He should have been made to stay. You 
have no idea how to manage a man.” 

Mrs. Larch went to the door, opened it, and called 
out, in a voice far from sweet or well modulated: 

“ Blanche!” 

After some delay the call was answered. A huge, 
smiling negress presented herself. 

“ You call me, Miss Larch? ” 

“ Yes. You need not devil the ham, nor make the 
omelet, nor toast the muffins. Miss Grace and I are 
alone this evening. Dry toast and tea will do.” 

When the maid had gone, she threw herself upon 
the lounge with a sigh. 

“ A nice supper saved ! He will not do as well at 
the hotel.” 

“ Mr. Duncan returns at once to New York,” Grace 
announced. 


27 


28 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Indeed! Did you at once give him his conge?” 

The girl would not answer the question. 

“ I trust, dear, that you are not going to be obsti- 
nate. Are you not going to tell me what I wish to 
hear? Must I undergo the fatigue of the pumping 
process? Try to be kind for once.” 

There was no response. 

“ How did the ordeal pass off? I timed you by the 
clock. You had nearly half an hour. A great deal can 
be said in that space of time. And I will be bound 
you and he had enough to say, pro and con. I can 
picture the scene. Shall I ? ” 

The girl was silent. She could not speak of Dun- 
can to her step-mother. She respected him, and her 
regard for him was of such a nature that it was impos- 
sible to detail their interview to a third person, even 
if that person were a relative. Perhaps she was old- 
fashioned, sensitive, foolish; nevertheless, she could 
not expose him and what she felt to be a sacred thing — 
a man’s love. 

“ I am sure it was a funny piece of business,” her 
step-mother said with cruel intention, for she was 
annoyed at this reticence; “ you are queer, and he 
elderly and in love. The combination is unique to say 
the least. I should like to add this experience to those 
I already possess. It will make rich food for reflection 
some day.” 

Grace walked slowly to and fro, and being a woman, 
managed to escape all accidents in the crowded room. 

“ Come, dear, you must tell me all — everything he 
said and what you said, giving in passing how you both 
looked. Behold! A woman consumed by curiosity. 


THE WRONG WAY 


29 


Have you no pity? I am actually wild to hear all 
about it. Do we often have delightful breaks in our 
monotonous existence ? Proceed ! ” 

“ There is little to tell. I gave him to understand 
that it could not be; that I could not marry him.” 

“ And did he say, thank you, and go without fur- 
ther ado? No; I warrant he did not. Men do not 
act that way.” 

“ Of course, we talked it over, and I am sure he 
realizes how I feel. I hope you will excuse my saying 
anything more, when I tell you it is painful to me.” 

“ Fiddlesticks ! So he has left Tenbrook? Well, he 
will return in a fortnight at the latest, but whether 
altogether to see you remains to be seen. He has not 
gone for good.” 

Grace had closed the conversation, at least as far as 
she was concerned, but her step-mother could not leave 
it immediately. 

“ I expected some dramatic effects,” she said in her 
airy manner; “ for love is not truly love unless tinged 
with the dramatic or thrilling element. Love is in 
reality, a burning, a consuming fire. But fancy you on 
fire! It is an impossibility, dear. You are cold — queer 
— uncongenial to men and women alike. It is to be 
expected that you should conduct an affair of the heart 
in a cut-and-dried manner — all debit and credit, you 
know, and nothing else possible.” 

The girl leaned against the bay window and listened 
to the rain beating on the panes. 

“ How differently Cecily would have conducted it — 
or any other girl for that matter! There would be 
light and shade, dramatic color, thrilling effects ; every- 


30 


THE WRONG WAY 


thing played in character and in tune. And now — ” 

Grace was pained. She recognized and acknowl- 
edged, to herself at any rate, her physical and mental 
shortcomings, yet even to her, whose mind was above 
pettiness as a general thing, it was at the present mo- 
ment more than usually bitter to be accused, and then 
blamed for what she could not help. She had not made 
herself. She had not selected her environment: that 
was not a matter of choosing. 

“ If you could but be somewhat like Cecily — only a 
little bit. She is clever, pretty, diverting. Everybody 
admits this. You might take a few lessons from her in 
many things. She is a fascinating girl.” 

Yes; of course she was her superior in beauty, in 
bearing, and in personal charm. It was the truth; she 
had never denied it. Instead she had always owned it, 
and gave way to her in a degree that was absurd and 
uncalled-for. At her hands all the praise, all the hom- 
age that one liberally dowered by the jealous gods 
could expect to receive was rendered with unselfish- 
ness and generosity, almost without a parallel. Never 
had she shown how hurt she was over her step-mother's 
unkind, often cruel, remarks, for her disposition was 
such that she would much rather suffer and endure in 
secret than bare her heart to an alien gaze. 

“ I am so anxious to have her back,” Mrs. Larch 
continued, as if bent on wounding the feelings of the 
listener ; “ she is so gay and agreeable. The very air 
seems different when she is absent. Of course she will 
have much to tell us. And she knows how to talk. 
Few girls understand that art. I daresay it will be 
Christmas before she will have finished. Dear Cecily ! ” 


THE WRONG WAY 


31 


There Grace stood without a word, her hands con- 
vulsively linked together ; her face pale and set. This 
was her martyrdom. The rain beat against the win- 
dows; the wind moaned; the outside world was as 
dreary and monotonous as herself. As she thought of 
herself her eyes looked wet, but there were no tears. 
She seldom wept. An evidence of hardheartedness, 
her step-mother characterized this trait. Cecily wept 
readily at moments of grief, joy, surprise, anger. Eyes 
are made clear and sparkling by frequent tears, to quote 
again from the aforesaid source. Cecily's were clear 
and sparkling, and it may be that her April showers 
were responsible for their remarkable brilliancy. 

“ She is bewitching," Mrs. Larch said, again strik- 
ing the familiar tune, which, strange to say, had no 
melody whatever in her listener's ears at this stage of 
the evening. 

“ Yes; she is all of that," the girl said; “ she is all 
you say she is. No one ever thought of denying it. 
She is a lovely girl. Everybody can see that." 

She walked slowly across the room as she spoke. 
She reached the door; it closed on her softly as she 
uttered the final word of praise. 

Mrs. Larch reclined among the pillows of the lounge 
with a smile on her face, and thought over certain 
things. She did not care for her step-daughter, and 
nothing was gained by pretending that she did. And 
it was enjoyable to indulge her true feelings, in one 
quarter at least. One cannot play a part for years 
without a break some time. She and her daughter 
could get along very well indeed without Grace Larch. 
She was far from being indispensable to them; it fre- 


32 


THE WRONG WAY 


quently turned out a hard thing that there was such a 
person in their world. Her presence there had to be 
endured; she had to be allowed a part of the small 
income which had been left them at the death of her 
father. The truth of the matter is, one ought not to 
marry a widower with children. It was a mistake. 
She had held this opinion before her marriage as a 
mere opinion and without experience to substantiate 
it, and now, having had the experience, she knew she 
had been correct in thinking so. She had never become 
accustomed to the girl being Alfred Larch’s child. 

Whenever she looked at her or thought of her she 
remembered with the old jealous pang that he had been 
married before and that she had been the second wife. 
And this was bitter as gall. She should have been the 
first as well as the last. To be second was almost more 
than she could bear, so patience here must not be ex- 
pected. She could not get used to the fact that there 
had been a wife and child too before her advent. If 
this girl could go away and stay away — of course in a 
fashion befitting their social standing — or that she and 
Cecily could, all would be fair. An arrangement like 
that would make them happier, better, gayer. 

One admires certain people at a distance. Here they 
were cramped at every turn. And three women thrown 
upon one another, without a man in the house, natur- 
ally found life somewhat prosaic at best, and at times 
rather hard to carry along. Lately a hope had dawned 
on their horizon that a change might come — if she 
married again. And that seemed more than likely. 
She was not too far advanced in years for a second 
marriage. If money and a great establishment were 


THE WRONG WAY 


33 


in prospect the change would be altogether desirable. 
Up to yesterday she had thought there might come 
that change in her life. But it turned out that she had 
been indulging in foolish castle-building. 

Instead of seeking a sensible, well-bred woman, suit- 
able to him in age, as well as in manner, tastes and 
intelligence, Adam Duncan had the weakness, the poor 
taste, to think of a girl in every particular unsuited to 
him. He had asked her to marry him — to be the head 
of his establishment in New York City. Was this not 
proof of the folly of men and of the incredulity of 
women ? How could such a man as Duncan think that 
a girl like Grace would fancy him as a husband ? She 
was a self-willed, proud, obstinate girl, who dreamed 
all manner of ridiculous dreams which required time, 
patience and strategy to oppose and overthrow. Even 
now, after a trying warfare, she could not place any 
confidence in the girl and the various promises she had 
exacted. Every morning she awoke with the fear that 
she would be openly defied at last; that these same 
ridiculous dreams were being made something more 
real and disturbing than mere girlish dreaming. And 
then, what should they do? Could he really love a 
girl like that? He ought to have looked elsewhere — 
a man, so rich, so refined, and well on in years. Grace 
could never rise to his ideal. He had come to Ten- 
brook and to their house in a most familiar and sig- 
nificant way for more than a year. The entire neigh- 
borhood regarded him in a peculiar light — in fact, he 
and they were a common theme of gossip. Only a 
week ago the society journal, the Elite , hinted broadly 
at a prospective marriage between a popular widow and 


34 


THE WRONG WAY 


a distinguished visitor, and she had been compelled to 
parry numerous jocular remarks relating to the matter. 
Everybody in the place knew that she had been receiv- 
ing and entertaining Duncan ; her intimes were aware 
of the trouble she had taken, and even expense she 
had been put to in providing delicious dinners, suppers, 
and parties for his pleasure. For what purpose had she 
devised surprises for his palate? Truly, not for the end 
now reached. No a thousand times! She had not 
entertained that thought for a moment. It was hard, 
provoking, in a sense insulting; it was in truth well 
nigh beyond endurance. Her step-daughter would not 
marry him, and of course she ought not, for such a 
thing as that would be presumptuous, to say the least. 
And so Duncan would go elsewhere, and probably 
marry a woman they had never heard of. His wealth 
and position would be lost to them forever. And to 
think of the fuss and the expense she had gone to for 
the sake of this man! Really women are fools. But 
she at least ought to have known better, for she was 
experienced in men’s ways. As for Grace, she did not 
possess sufficient sense to go into the house when it 
rained. No doubt she had frightened the man away 
by her manner of refusing him, and they would not 
see him soon, if ever. That chance would not occur 
again. If she could have managed the affair herself 
he would not have escaped. One of them would have 
married him; there could have been no hitch. Well, 
why had she not taken it in hand ? Simply because a 
different development was anticipated. The present 
turn was unexpected. All this time she was getting 
up nice and dainty meals, dreaming over, and dressing 


THE WRONG WAY 


35 


herself for something Duncan had had no intention 
whatever of bringing about, and so she had let a rare, 
a golden opportunity slip by from sheer stupidity. 
Nobody was to blame but herself. It was indeed a 
serious blunder on her part, but it is said that one learns 
by one’s blunders. She should have made her step- 
daughter marry him willy-nilly, if she found that he 
positively would not be content with some one else, 
rather than have let him go altogether. Fine, rich men 
of his age are not found every day. In a matter of 
such good fortune as this, self, egotism, all silly ideas 
in short, should have been regulated properly if their 
absolute banishment were out of the question; for a 
splendid marriage would be advantageous to the entire 
family. Both she and Cecily would have profited 
thereby beyond their fairest expectations. This man 
was wealthy, and kind, and generous as a friend. 
What would he not have been as a relative? Alas! 
How dull she had been ! She was not even as clever as 
Grace. Her mistake was by far the greater. Perhaps 
if he came upon the scene once more, or if a similar 
opportunity presented itself to Grace or Cecily — or 
even to herself, she might have more sense and see her 
way more clearly. It is to be hoped that she would. 

At this point the lady was disturbed in her musing 
by the opening of the door. Blanche, the negro maid, 
stood on the threshold. 

“ Tea is ready, Miss Larch,” she said with an ex- 
pansive smile. 

“ Very well; call Miss Grace.” 

“ I don’t know where she is.” 

“ Find her then. She is somewhere about the house.” 


IV 

“It is time for me to go to meet Cecily/' Grace said, as 
the town clock struck four one afternoon, one week 
after Adam Duncan's proposal and departure; “ you 
known the train is due from Hartford at a quarter past 
four. I must hurry if I wish to see it come in. How 
good it will be to have her home again! " 

She was pleasantly excited at the prospect, but not 
half as much as Mrs. Larch. That lady was stretched 
on the lounge, as usual, in a picturesque pose, and as 
usual arrayed with particular care. She affected tea 
gowns of daring designs, striking color and elaborate 
make, and on this occasion her selection was an odd 
affair of blood red surah and red net, against which 
her face and hands looked strikingly fair. Her pretty, 
eager face was flushed, and her eyes glittered. She 
had small, white, hands much beringed, of which she 
was inordinately vain. The gems sparkled incessantly, 
because she was nervous, and her fingers shook. 

“ I am exceedingly anxious," she said, with an 
affected laugh; “ I wish I were able to control myself. 
I suppose it is because we live in this dead town and 
never travel. I used to be different. I can scarcely 
breathe. It is always so when Cecily is away. No one 
can be sure of her. Suppose she does not come to-day ? 
I shall not feel easy until I see her face to face." 

Grace laughed. 


36 


THE WRONG WAY 


37 


“ Never have children, dear, if you wish to go 
through life cool, self-possessed, assured. They are 
in reality a disturbing factor.” 

The girl went away smiling at that. It was but a 
step to the railway station. What with her excitement 
and the sharp autumn air and the brisk pace at which 
she walked she was in quite a glow on reaching the 
waiting-room. There were several persons there whom 
she knew; but she did not stop to speak to therii. . She 
merely bowed, and passed on to the platform. Here 
she found an animated group of young people — four 
men and two girls — with whom she was acquainted. 
She joined them, and was cordially welcomed. 

“ I have come to meet my sister,” she explained; 
“ she has been visiting Ella Barclay, of Hartford. We 
look for her on this train.” 

Her information gave pleasure, especially to one of 
the men, Philip Cheever by name, and there was a per- 
ceptible amount of interest exhibited at once. Cecily 
Larch always aroused animation in people. She was 
what was termed a popular girl; she was a favorite 
wherever she went. 

Cheever was an elegant fellow — clear-eyed, clean- 
shaven, ruddy-faced — arrayed in faultless style. He 
was Bostonese from hat to shoe. 

“ I am glad to hear it,” he said; “ Tenbrook has not 
been itself since she left — at least our set has not been. 
Don’t we agree in that unanimously? By the by, 
Miss Larch, I am stage manager of a comedy we intend 
to bring out soon for the benefit of the orphanage. I 
must have you and your sister for certain roles. We 
were speaking of it when you joined us.” 


38 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ What is the piece? ” Grace asked with interest. 

“ ‘ A Scrap of Paper/ May I call to-morrow even- 
ing and talk it over? If we are successful in Tenbrook 
we shall give it in town for a similar charity.” 

“ Tenbrook is to be the dog. If it survives, Boston 
will endure.” 

It transpired that the others of the group were in 
the cast, and they were consumed with a burning inter- 
est in the play. Immediately a lively conversation 
ensued in regard to it, and the well-known animus of 
amateurs was fully displayed. 

Grace was as rabid as the rest on the subject of ama- 
teur performances, and, being counted among the lead- 
ing dilettanti , took an active part in the present talk. 

Soon, however, the agreeable discourse was inter- 
rupted. A heavy rumbling sound broke the country 
silence, and it grew gradually louder and louder. A 
long, dense line of smoke presently was seen; finally 
the train came puffing in sight. In a moment or two 
more the platform' was crowded, as this was perhaps 
the heaviest train during the day. Passengers were 
alighting frofn, and others were quietly boarding the 
train; there was shouting and confusion all around. 
Grace was left by her friends, who were going to town 
and had already found their places in the parlor car. 
She stood apart from the hurrying throng, scrutinizing 
each face that passed, but to her surprise she did not 
see her sister. 

In a few seconds, however, she had the satisfaction 
of seeing a man, some distance down the line, help a 
young lady descend from the car, who was none other 
than the one she looked for. The young lady appeared 


THE WRONG WAY 


39 


to think it was no easy feat to descend two steps. She 
stood there coquetting in a light, careless way, attract- 
ing the attention of every man who would look. And 
all the men wanted to look, and did look in that bold, 
admiring manner which some women enjoy more than 
any other kind. 

Grace looked on amused, yet disturbed. She dis- 
liked public attention herself and always experienced 
a mortified sensation when out of doors with her sis- 
ter, much as she loved her. The staring, laughing 
admiration of porters, cabmen, and idle men on street 
corners, was not to her taste, in fact, it was painful 
and degrading. But Cecily enjoyed it in a butterfly 
way. Admiration was food and drink to her, and she 
had to have it, no matter what the source might be, so 
long as it was given in huge doses. 

At last she reached the platform by jumping lightly 
down and screaming. The crowd had dwindled away 
by this time, and only Grace and one or two railway 
officials were left. 

The young lady and her escort came along, towards 
where she stood waiting to receive her, indulging in 
the badinage, in which a certain class of the people of 
today take infinite pleasure and are exquisite adepts. 
They got quite up to the girl before being aware of her 
presence, so engrossed were they in one another. 

Cecily was the first to look up. She uttered a shriek 
of delight and jumped forward. 

“ Oh, my dear, how good it is to see you again ! 
And how well you look! Have you missed me? ” 

Her escort, the railway officials, the people at the car 
windows — all were looking on and listening. Perhaps 


40 


THE WRONG WAY 


if the audience were not there she would not have been 
so demonstrative. 

Grace enfolded her in an embrace so maternal that 
it proved to be diverting to the spectators. 

“ Welcome a thousand times! ” she whispered with 
a kiss ; “ have I missed you ? It seemed an age since 
you went away.” 

The young girl brightened; her eyes sparkled. She 
turned to her escort with a charming air. 

“ Mr. Tejon, allow me to introduce you to my sister, 
of whom you have heard me speak once or twice, I 
believe, within the past three weeks.” 

The gentleman bowed. 

“ And please remember,” she continued, before he 
could speak; “ that you are by no means to forget us, 
or lose sight of the little place called Tenbrook, or all 
the fun we have had together at Ella’s. Come and see 
us in our own home. It is but a short run from Boston. 
And if it were a greater distance it would still be your 
duty, your pleasure, to come. For I ask you.” 

“ I shall not forget.” 

“ Promise me that you will come, and it will be 
binding. And when you come I shall take you to a 
german. I shall never, never forgive you if you do 
not. A woman scorned is a fearful thing. Come, 
promise ! ” 

“ It is a promise. You may depend on me. Good- 
by.” 

He held her hand and said something too low for 
anyone to overhear. 

She stood transfixed. She watched him bow for- 
mally to her companion and take the train, which in 


THE WRONG WAY 


41 


a moment after pulled out. That roused her. She 
laughed, and waved her hand to him, as he stood on 
the rear platform bareheaded, in her gayest manner. 

Grace observed her sister with interest and some 
curiosity. She imagined there was a change in her 
or a difference, which as yet was indescribable — or 
perhaps it was but fancy on her own part. There 
might be nothing in it, after all. 

“ Is he not the handsomest man you ever saw?” 
Cecily demanded with a peculiar tone of triumph, as 
though she owned the man; “ did you ever see such a 
face, such a form? In every line power is plainly 
discerned.” 

They were on their homeward way. 

“ No; he is not the handsomest man I ever saw. I 
have seen handsomer ones. Take for instance, your 
old flame, Philip Cheever; he is much better looking.” 

“ That is a matter of opinion.” 

“ Of course. Would it not be monotonous if we 
thought alike? Each eye forms its own ideal of beauty.” 

“ Everybody in Hartford agreed in this : that Huer- 
fano Tejon was the handsomest man seen there in 
many a year.” 

“ What an odd name ! I must get you to spell it. 
It sounds something like Waffano Tayhone. What 
is he ? Where is he from ? ” 

“ His people were Spanish Americans, and he was 
born in the City of Mexico. Early in his life the fam- 
ily settled in Colorado. They are wealthy. He is the 
only child, and has a beautiful home at Colorado 
Springs. There are mines, ranches and railways in 
his possessions, I am told.” 


42 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Indeed ! Another darling of the gods, and of 
course petted in every way. Some people are so for- 
tunate/ ’ 

“ He is greatly blessed, but he is good and true and 
worthy of all he has.” 

“ Philip Cheever wants you and me to assist in a 
production of ‘ A Scrap of Paper/ for the benefit of 
the orphanage. He is going to call to-morrow to 
decide on our parts. I have just seen him.” 

“ He need not. I dislike amateur theatricals, and I 
think it bad form for a lady to pose before the rabble.” 

Grace started in surprise. 

“ Yes, I despise such things, and I am not going in 
for them any more in future.” 

“You astonish me,” her sister said bluntly; “for 
hitherto you have gone in for such things, and could 
never have enough of them.” 

“ I am no longer the same, dear. I have changed 
since I left home, and after seeing all I have, I am 
determined to be different.” 

Grace listened in amazement. 

“ You strike me as being different already. And 
what will mother say? You must get back to your 
old self. You must remain the same; for we cannot 
permit you to change, and so you had better know it 
now. None of us want you to change in any way.” 

“ Many thanks for small favors ! But how can you 
prevent time and change? You might as well tell the 
wind not to blow. I cannot help it; you cannot help 
it. Let me tell you something strange. The old Cecily 
is dead. And it all happened in one day, too. How 
many things can happen in a day ! ” And here she 


THE WRONG WAY 


43 


sighed. It was a spontaneous bit of confidence, and it 
was accepted with unconcealed wonder and regret. 

She laughed at the solemn face beside her. 

“You goose!” she exclaimed, taking Grace’s arm; 
“ how long your face is ! I will explain the sudden 
and marvelous alteration in your giddy, careless sis- 
ter. It is not hard to do so. I really want to tell you 
too. But you must promise to keep it inviolate. That 
is the only color for a secret, you know. You are not 
to talk about it, or tell our inquisitive mother either. 
I shall tell her myself — when I am ready, but I wish 
to wait awhile. I wish to try our old life once more, 
in the old way, before I bid it farewell forever. And 
I must wait anyhow — for other reasons. Do ' you 
promise not to divulge the secret until I give you 
permission? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Well, then — here’s my mighty secret : I am deeply 
in love. It is the first time, and of course it will be 
the last time.” 

For the moment her sister was unable to speak. 

“ And what is more wonderful than that, I am a 
married woman as well.” 

Grace uttered a startled cry, but she could not speak 
for very surprise. 

“ Yes; I am a wife, but you must not tell anybody. 
It is a secret for the present. I wanted to tell you, 
because I must tell somebody. I cannot keep such a 
secret as that. It would be asking too much.” 

Her companion walked on in silence, listening with 
sober face. 

“ I warrant you have never had a greater shock than 


44 


THE WRONG WAY 


this. But you know, dear, it is the unexpected that 
happens. See what I got for leaving my country home ! 
Love and a husband too, in such a brief space of time, 
are enough to make a more sensible and steady girl 
than myself, giddy — if nothing else. I wonder how 
you would stand it. You are so different.” 

“ Leave speculation alone,” her sister said, at last 
finding her voice; “ tell me the rest of the affair. Half 
confidence is the worst kind of confidence.” 

“ So it is; I quite agree with you in that. I am 
willing to leave speculation alone, and tell you as much 
as I can. But it cannot be much, because there is not 
a great deal in it.” 

“ You are talking to gain time. Why not be true 
and frank? ” 

“ I will be. There is nothing I am ashamed of. At 
Ella Barclay’s was a gentleman whom I loved the 
moment I saw him, as he did me. You may well stare. 
It was that phenomenon, which the writing folk call 
love at first sight. I could poetize on the subject — if 
I tried. Can you, who I believe have never loved, 
comprehend my emotions during those joyous days in 
Hartford? Enough to say that every second was an 
indescribable experience, and that love does rule the 
feminine heart in a mysterious way. My visit at last 
drew to its close, and at the thought of separation both 
he and I suffered beyond words. In a moment of 
impulse — the kind of feeling people of your mind call 
madness — I yielded to his importunities and con- 
sented to a secret marriage. You exclaim at this. I 
did not care what kind of marriage it was, if I were 
but his and he mine. I love this man too much to 


THE WRONG WAY 


45 


quibble as to how, why, and where. I was only too 
glad to marry him in any way. And besides that feel- 
ing you know I am a sentimental, romantic — ay, fool- 
ish girl. Such a 'silly proceeding appealed to me, and 
I was of course an eager party to it. There you know 
it all ” 

“ All? I think I know nothing as yet. You talk, 
but you say nothing. Tell me why this man is not 
with you to-day? Tell me why he does not come with 
you like a man and have the marriage acknowledged? 
Why are you left to return home alone, and as though 
you were still the same young girl that left it a few 
weeks ago? Are you ashamed of your folly already? 
Where is the man? What do you two intend to do? " 

The girl laughed in a reckless way full in her sis- 
ter's face. It was very like defiance. 

“ How absurd you are, dear ! " she exclaimed ; 
“ you are tragedy, or rather indignation, personified. 
And besides that you are a walking interrogation mark. 
I never dreamed that you could be ridiculous. One 
question at a time — if you please." 

The two girls had reached their home, and they stood 
near the gravel walk that led between beds of dahlias, 
asters, and other late plants, up to the front door. 

“ Answer me this one question," Grace said imperi- 
ously, resting a hand on her sister’s shoulder; “ are 
you really in every way a wife? " 

Cecily blushed at that hard question, and looked 
away. 

“ Why, what a thing to ask! You are a queer girl, 
dear." 

“ Answer me ! " 


46 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ I do not like the tone you have adopted towards 
me. Suppose I decline ? " 

“ Answer me! " 

She hesitated. 

“ Yes or no?" 

“ No." 

“ I am so glad ! " 

Cecily ran swiftly up the path apparently relieved 
at being released from cross-examination. The door 
was opened wide, and her mother rushed forward with 
a cry of welcome. Grace lingered outside for a time 
in order to think and also to avoid witnessing the first 
transports of that meeting. 

And in the evening, after tea, she effaced herself 
as much as possible, and sat in the background listen- 
ing and watching. Mrs. Larch, in her lighthearted 
way, enjoyed the reunion to the utmost. She and her 
daughter were kindred spirits; they had always been 
more like friends than parent and child. 

The quiet, unnoticed person in the shadowy corner 
fancied she saw many changes in the radiant young 
creature laughing and talking in the glare of the lamp 
light. There was a new, a feverish gayety ; a studied 
attempt to say daring and funny things; in short, she 
appeared to be emancipated. It would not be long 
before others would observe these changes too, and 
of course the cause would be sought, and found. There 
would be no trouble, no embarrassment, no untoward 
complications if the husband showed himself on the 
scene in time, proclaimed the clandestine marriage, 
and so made the matter right. But he might not show 
himself. And then ? 


THE WRONG WAY 


47 


The girls were at last alone in their bedroom. The 
door was no sooner closed than Grace ran up to Cecily, 
and put her arms around the slim, young figure in a 
passionate way that made that young lady widen her 
lovely eyes in amazement. 

“ More tragedy and indignation and interrogation, 
dear? ” 

“ Oh, do not laugh at me ! I love you, and am anx- 
ious on your account. You know that I am never 
prying — never inquisitive/’ 

The girl disengaged herself from her sister’s embrace 
and, going to the dressing table, stood before the mir- 
ror unfastening her long, thick hair. It was beautiful 
blonde hair, and she never lost interest in it, so vain 
and proud she was of everything that was a part of 
herself. 

“ You must not disenchant me, dear,” she said 
lightly, looking at the mirrored face, and brushing the 
hair in firm strokes; “I have always admired your 
character.” 

“ You will not be unkind? You will not mind if I 
revert to your marriage again ? ” 

“ More questions ? ” 

“ Yes, I want to know more. I know enough to 
torment, but not enough to satisfy me. I must see 
things clearly.” 

“ Of course that is always the way with people. 
They want each detail, each sigh, smile, tremble of the 
eye-lash, blush, and pulsation of the heart. And I 
thought you the exception! Ask, and let us get done 
with the business as quickly as possible.” 

“ Tell me the man’s name. Tell me when your mar- 


4 


48 


THE WRONG WAY 


riage is to be acknowledged. Tell me everything now.” 

“ And if you do not life will be made disagreeable 
for you,” Cecily added with a laugh. A pause. 

“ Let me see,” she sajd finally; “to begin at the 
beginning will be best — or rather to your taste. We 
were married day before yesterday afternoon at four 
o’clock. It might have been ten minutes after. I am 
not sure. We were out driving. We were often out 
driving. He kept a fine horse and stylish trap at the 
stables. Of course he had gotten a license. He under- 
stood that I would not refuse him, so he went prepared. 
And he found a Baptist minister who willingly united 
us. If he had not, the probate judge was available. 
Now, why were we married clandestinely? Because 
he was obliged to leave Hartford. A sudden death 
had occurred in his family, and dispatches recalled him 
home to attend the funeral. He wanted to be sure of 
me. I am so valuable and so variable, you know. I 
made him think so, at any rate. Men must never know 
how weak we women are when we really love them.” 

By this time she had disrobed, and being ready for 
bed, sat down on the edge of it, and rested her face in 
the palms of her hands. She was pretty and dainty, 
and one could not help but love her, despite her faults. 

“ Dear,” she said in an irresistible way; “ you must 
not condemn me for what I have done. It is not bad — 
only romantic and foolish. This man is a gentleman, 
and we are really deeply in love. There was no time 
in which to plan for the future. He had to go home, 
but after he has arranged matters there he will come 
for me, and all will be well.” 

“ Did he say you might tell us? ” 


THE WRONG WAY 


49 


“ I forgot to ask him. In a week or ten days he 
will be here, and we shall see what we shall see.” 

“ Why not tell your mother ? ” 

“ I do not wish to do it. You know how she will 
carry on, and I have determined to wait until he comes. 
He shall tell her and she will say nothing. I am not 
going to be nagged. A man is a wonderful institution 
with my mother and she acquiesces in all he says and 
does. I know that she will be delighted with this one.” 

“ Will you tell me his name? ” 

There was no answer. 

“ I appreciate your reserve, and yet I think you can 
entrust his name to me.” 

“ This is a side issue. You would not be wiser, if 
I told you his name.” 

“ I do not care whether you tell me or not. I know 
it. Your husband is that man from Colorado with the 
outlandish name.” 

It was an unexpected outburst, and it went straight 
home. Cecily flushed and looked anywhere but at her 
sister. She hurried into bed. As Grace entered from 
the other side, she put her arms about her and 
whispered : 

“ You are right. He is Huerfano Tejon.” 


V. 


Three weeks had passed. 

In that short space of time, however, a marked 
change had taken place in the Larch household. 

Cecily had been first taciturn, restless, disagreeable, 
then finally she fell ill of typhoid fever. The leading 
physician of Tenbrook had of course been in attendance 
every day, much to the anxiety of the mother and the 
satisfaction of the patient, who craved attention if 
well or ill. 

Mrs. Larch and Grace had been frightened, perhaps 
more than was necessary, over the case, but the patient 
was at present convalescent, all danger was over, and 
they were permitted to breathe freely again. 

These are brief, bare facts, no doubt somewhat 
abruptly stated. However, if there is sufficient interest 
to read between the lines, a mass of detail, more or less 
interesting, but doubtless too voluminous for narra- 
tion, will be discovered. Indeed it would consume 
more time and space and patience than ordinary people 
have at their disposal to write out in full, and to endure 
too, the thousand and one foolish actions, exaggerated 
alarms and meannesses that Mrs. Larch indulged in 
during this period of twenty-one days, to describe the 
drudgery and the domestic warfare forced upon poor 
Grace — the first because she was well and strong and 
slow to anger; the second, because spite and tyrannies 
must be vented somehow — and to portray the thor- 
50 


THE WRONG WAY 


51 


oughly selfish course adopted by the petted darling of 
the house. 

At no time in her illness had there been a single 
symptom of danger. Combined with a slight attack of 
fever were temper, disappointment, chagrin, and 
irritability. It seems that Huerfano Tejon had not 
appeared on the scene as early as she expected, neither 
had she heard from him by letter or by wire. In itself 
this was beyond enduring and it made her ill. She 
was glad when fever did set in, and she was forced to 
keep to her room, and have the physician called in. 
It was fitting that she should be ill under the circum- 
stances; the bed was the proper refuge for her. So she 
remained in it as long as she could, and pretended that 
she was worse than she really was, and complacently 
received the, attentions of the physician and of the fam- 
ily as her due. 

With remarkable temerity her sister several times 
broached the Tejon affair, and urged that Mrs. Larch 
be told, but it brought on such an amount of excitement 
and petulance that she was glad enough to leave the 
subject alone at last. 

To cap the disagreeable situation the head of the 
family had maintained a hostile attitude towards her 
stepdaughter, and there was not a thing left unsaid or 
undone that might not make life a wretched thing. 
The method was so systematic and persistent that it 
was evident she had some object in view. 

Such were the clouds on this horizon. 

One afternoon towards the close of the three weeks, 
Mrs. Larch was, as usual, posed on the lounge in the 
tawdry parlor arrayed in a tea gown of pale green silk 


52 


THE WRONG WAY 


set off with yards and yards of pink ribbon and creamy 
lace, with all her diamonds on, and her hair arranged 
in the most becoming way. Some distance off her step- 
daughter rested in a rocking chair, near the bay win- 
dow. Her hands were clasped together in her lap. She 
looked tired. Cecily had gone to her room, wishing 
to be alone, and her presence was not at all desirable 
at that time, for she had been exceedingly feverish and 
disagreeable company all day. 

It had been a fretful day. Each one in the house 
had been more or less out of tune. The weather too 
was stormy, and it was impossible to go out of doors 
with any hope of enjoyment. For a whole week the 
weather clerk had visited Tenbrook with rain and sul- 
len sky. With Mrs. Larch snappish, Cecily dull and 
silent, the domestic atmosphere was thundery. In sheer 
desperation and self defense Grace sought the kitchen, 
the one cheery spot in the house, and there with the 
negro maid of all work, she had passed the day in 
welcome work. In the distance she heard the step- 
mother lamenting and fretting and complaining of 
everything under the sun. Nothing was right. Every- 
thing was wrong. So she fumed. All the novels and 
magazines in the house had been read, the chocolate 
creams in the bonbonniere eaten, the aforesaid toilet of 
pink and green accomplished, and yet here she was 
with but a portion of the afternoon killed and a stupid 
evening with women in prospect. Oh, for a man to 
break the monotony of this life ! 

There was absolutely nothing for Grace to do either 
in the kitchen or any other part of the house, so she 
was on the point of donning a waterproof in order to 


THE WRONG WAY 


53 


pass an hour out of doors, rain or no rain, when a 
sharp voice summoned her to the parlor. To escape 
was out of the question. 

She put the waterproof down and obeyed the sum- 
mons, knowing of old that it was easier to yield than 
to combat any of her step-mother's vagaries. She went 
to the parlor, found that her sister had gone upstairs, 
and quietly took the rocking-chair which she had 
vacated. 

“ I wish you to sit with me," her step-mother 
explained; “ you have been with Blanche too much 
lately. You are spoiling her. She does not serve as 
well as she did a month ago." 

After that there was silence. 

“ What is the matter with Cecily?" Mrs. Larch 
asked after awhile, not expecting an answer; “ she 
is convalescent, and yet she does not improve. Is she 
worse than we imagine? It pains me to see her so 
unlike herself." 

The girl did not appear to hear these plaintive 
remarks. She sat looking out of the window, wishing 
she could have gone out, wet as it was. 

“What is the matter with her," was asked again; 
“ have you any idea? " 

“ Do you not know? " Grace rejoined, Irish fashion. 

“ If I did, I would not ask." 

“ You have Dr. Irrmann. What does he say? " 

Mrs. Larch hesitated a moment before answering. 

“ He says that she is rid of the fever, but that she is 
in a weak condition still." 

“Well?" 

“That she has delicate lungs; that there is a hint 


54 


THE WRONG WAY 


of tuberculosis; that she must not stay here this win- 
ter; that she must be taken away as soon as possible.” 
" Well? ” 

“ That the one climate for her now is that of Colo- 
rado.” 

“ Indeed !” 

“ Yes; and so I have been writing to various people 
there with a view of going. I have quite an amount of 
information already.” 

“ Of Colorado Springs ? ” 

“ Yes, how clever of you to guess the very place! 
Dr. Irrmann recommended Colorado Springs, we pre- 
fer it, and the general opinion is unanimously in favor 
of that one spot.” 

“ And what have you learned, as bearing on the 
case, that is favorable ? ” 

“ Many things. For instance, a friend there writes 
that their thermometer in the winter ranges in the 
seventies and eighties. The mountains stand like 
purple blots against the horizon, a haze softening the 
clear-cut outlines, which objects commonly assume in 
the intensity of Colorado sunshine. Probably no topic 
— not even George Washington and his hatchet or the 
silver question — has been more exhaustively discussed 
than Colorado weather. Yet when one thinks of a 
season ushered in by forty consecutive days of rain on 
the Atlantic coast and culminating in the terrible snow 
storms of the Sierras, it is difficult not to point the 
contrast. The climate alone of Colorado would make 
the words of Lysippus about Athens appropriate — 
‘ Whoever does not desire to see it is stupid; whoever 
sees it without being delighted is still more stupid; 


THE WRONG WAY 


55 


but the height of stupidity is to see it, to admire it„ 
and to leave it.' What do you say to that? ” 

“ Nothing — except that it ought, to be taken cum 
grano salis .” 

“ Of course you are skeptical. That is like you. 
And you know how anxious I am and how much is 
at stake.” 

“ What other information does your friend give? 
I am really interested in all of it, whether you believe 
me or not.” 

“ You ought to be. My friend says that no one can 
fail to be impressed with the rapid growth of the city. 
Colorado Springs has always been peopled by a well- 
to-do class of citizens, a majority of whom have been 
driven there through sickness of some member of the 
family. Once residents of the place they seldom leave, 
even after recovery, so fascinating is the climate and so 
pleasant the life.” 

“ All that sounds well, no doubt. But what will you 
say to this? The passport to society in New York is 
money, in Baltimore beauty, in Philadelphia family, 
and in Boston brains. There is not much left to make 
a specialty for Colorado Springs, so perhaps the most 
pleasing way will be to say that a combination of money 
and brains is required, with the addition of family and 
beauty. You see, I too have been making inquiries in 
a small way.” 

“ However, what you say hardly applies to us. We 
are not going to that distant, isolated part of the globe 
in order to penetrate the holy of holies of society, and 
you are perfectly aware of that fact. We shall need 
no passports of any kind.” 


56 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Well, let that drop. What of the place as a health 
resort? You have told me nothing so far that seems 
to warrant going that terrible distance.” 

“ It is just the place, dear, for your sister’s health. 
The pure, dry air laden with the balm of pine needles 
acts as a healing embrocation upon the surface of deli- 
cate or diseased lungs. The extraordinary purity of 
the air and its entire freedom from dust or pollen acts 
as a preventative of catarrh and hay fever, and to the 
weary brain worker the quiet shade and laughing 
brooks must be a never-failing source of rest and 
refinement. The temperature is mild during the win- 
ter, and invalids can stay there with perfect safety.” 

“ Say no more ! You are truly poetical. It is another 
paradise, and you have made up your mind to go. And 
I need scarcely add that Cecily has done the same.” 

“Yes, we both long to go to Colorado. We have 
talked it over carefully, but alas ! I fear it cannot be 
done. There is not enough money in our treasury.” 

“ How do you make that out? ” 

“ It is, as you know, an expensive trip. We should 
have to travel first-class, and besides the fare, which is 
very dear, there are sleeping berths, meals, fees, cab 
hire, and perhaps hotel bills in the cities where one 
goes to different stations, or when one fails to make 
connection. And after getting there living is exorbi- 
tant, particularly if one happens to be an invalid, or as 
they say out there, ‘ lungers.’ There are hotels, but 
nothing suited to our modest income. What can we do ? ” 
“ You are not obliged to live at a hotel. Why not 
take lodgings, and eat at restaurants, or boarding- 
houses? Surely there must be some such way.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


57 


“ There is. We can hire two furnished rooms for 
thirty dollars a month. Table board is seven dollars 
a week per capita. Cecily’s allowance added to mine, 
will make an income of seventy-five dollars a month. 
You see we cannot manage it on that, for of course 
there would be some extra expenditures.” 

“ Take my allowance; with that you will have 
enough.” 

“ And what would become of you? You must live 
as well as we. You would remain in Tenbrook — at 
home, but your daily wants, however slight they might 
be, would have to be defrayed.” 

“ I should not require a great deal.” 

“ No, dear, and with your share we could manage 
the undertaking handsomely. But we should want 
every cent of it. What is to become of you? ” 

“ As usual I am in the way. At last you must yield, 
and consent to see me earn my own living. Does it 
not seem providential that I am able to do that ? ” 

“ Even if I did yield to this mad scheme of yours, 
I do not think for a moment that you could secure an 
opening immediately. If you worked, you would be 
obliged to begin at once, and people do not jump into 
vacancies on the stage without effort, as you seem to 
think. It would be weeks before you could get an 
engagement, for you are an amateur without money, 
influence or notoriety. To find an engagement you 
must go to a dramatic agency in Boston or New York. 
That would be the first outlay. The agents would 
refuse to enter your name on their books, being an 
amateur, and they would not procure you an opening, 
without a bonus. There is your second outlay. In the 


58 


THE WRONG WAY 


event of being engaged, there must be a wardrobe, a 
box of make-up, one or more wigs and some cash on 
hand for the inevitable theatrical rainy day — when the 
troupe disbands, and the players have no alternative 
but to walk home. You see, I have refused to discuss 
the thing with you heretofore, but I flatter myself that 
I know something about it. No, dear, you shall not 
become an actress if I can prevent it. The idea is 
absurd, and you must abandon it. Cecily and I are 
not to be dragged down to that extent, if we can pre- 
vent it by fighting you in all directions/’ 

“ You forget that I am of age, and can do as I 
please.” 

“ I have not forgotten that important fact. You can 
run away from home if you see fit to disgrace yourself 
and us. But you have promised to help your sister go 
away, and you will not break your promise.” 

“ No, I will not. You may take my allowance and 
go to Colorado as soon as you deem expedient. I see 
you have thought the matter out, and of course you 
have found a way for me too.” 

“ I have. There is but one way. However, I fear 
you will not listen to it for a second. Such a charming, 
easy, pleasant way it is too, for every one of us ! How 
I wish you would listen to it, and acquiesce! You 
really ought not to be foolish and unreasonable at such 
a crisis as this.” 

“ I am sure I shall try not to be. But what is this 
delightful plan? I am stupid; I cannot imagine what 
it is, and yet I am eager, yes willing, to do anything in 
my power to make the way clear for you and Cecily. 
I have been that all my life.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


59 


“ You can marry,” her step-mother said hesitatingly. 
She was not sure how the girl would take the sug- 
gestion. 

“ Why, what made you think of such a thing as that? 
Marry? How droll! To make a marriage you must 
have a man and a woman. Do not lose sight of that.” 

Mrs. Larch laughed in a subtle way that irritated 
her listener — why she could not have explained. 

“ You can marry as soon as you like and help your 
sister and me in many ways. And we need the help. 
It is your duty to help us if you can. Do you not 
see it ? ” 

A great misgiving held the girl as if it were a vise, 
and she could not say a word for very fear. 

“ You can marry and give us your share of the paltry 
estate your father left. Need we mince matters? It 
will be pleasanter for us as a family, if you marry and 
go away. Is it not time you did, any way ? ” 

“ Whom shall I marry?” 

“ Adam Duncan.” 

“ Oh!” 

“ Had you forgotten him ? He has not forgotten 
you. He is still anxious to marry, and you may become 
his wife within a week. Only say yes, and the deed is 
done.” 

Grace started back as though she had been struck. 

“ I understand you,” she said ; “ but it cannot be. 
I have refused him. I do not love him.” 

“ Do you not admire — like — respect him ? ” 

“ Yes, but nothing more. I cannot marry a man 
unless I love him.” 

“ You will have to do it. What has love got to do 


60 


THE WRONG WAY 


with it ? And what is love any how ? That is always 
the way with women like you. You prate of love, love, 
love; and yet you know simply nothing of it. Here 
is our situation in a nutshell — as frankly as I can put 
it. I have rented the house to Dr. Irrmann for a 
special patient of his for the rest of the winter, and 
agreed to vacate it within ten days, or sooner if prac- 
ticable. Your sister and I are going to Colorado. As 
for you, you must marry Duncan. I did not like this 
plan when I first knew it. But that is neither here nor 
there. The man is rich. He loves you. He wants 
you, and will take you without the bother of a trous- 
seau and the usual fuss, to-day — to-morrow — any day 
— and so, it is desirable.” 

“ And you, a woman, speak to me so? ” 

“ Yes — I — a — woman. You are a fool not to jump 
at the chance. We are poor, and you know how we are 
always pinched. Do you hesitate? You like the man 
and he loves you. What more do you ask of fortune? 
As his wife, see how much you can do for us — if you 
are really so disposed. You are continually talking 
of helping and doing for us, and here is your chance. 
Will you do it? ” 

The girl hid her face in her hands and did not 
answer. 

“ This is a turning point for us, and if you hesitate 
and refuse this man we shall neither forget nor forgive. 
Have a little common sense — some regard for others — 
and look at the affair in the right way, I beg of you.” 

At this point she rose pettishly from the lounge, and 
moved towards the door — somewhat afraid, if the truth 
must be told, to remain longer with the girl after this 


THE WRONG WAY 


61 


plain talking. As she put her hand on the door-knob 
she paused and looked around with a faint smile. 

“ Perhaps I had better tell you that Duncan and I 
have been in correspondence this week. I took advan- 
tage of our old friendship, and told him about your 
sister, and the predicament we are in. And he is 
extremely kind. He wants us to go at once, and gen- 
erously offers to defray the expenses of the trip, if I 
will let him. Shall I do so? 1 could — if he were a 
member of the family.” 

The door closed and Grace was alone, surprised and 
rebellious. There she sat in the darkening room with 
clenched hands, without a word, without a movement, 
for some time, thinking. A little after six o’clock her 
step-mother returned, fearing to stay away longer, and 
found her sitting where she had left her. 

“ Cecily has gone to bed,” she remarked sharply; 
“ she seems rather worse to-night than usual. I am 
distracted about her and do not know what I shall do. 
To think that I should have so much anxiety in. my 
days of decline ! Poor me ! ” 

She seldom alluded to her age, and when she did it 
was a sign that everything was out of gear. Generally 
speaking, age was a bugaboo to her, and she as young 
as anybody — or pretended that she was, which was all 
right as far as it went. Her endeavor was to be gay 
and bright and juvenile, *and up to a certain point 
success crowned her efforts. 

The girl rose and crossed the room like a person in a 
dream. She did not wish to stay in the same room with 
the woman. The pitying sigh just heard should, by all 
right, have come from her breast, but she never made 


62 


THE WKONG WAY 


complaints. What was the use? If she did, no one, 
in that house at least, would pay the slightest attention 
to it, so it was as well. 

“ Where are you going ? Blanche can get the supper 
ready by herself. You need not go to Cecily. She 
requests to be left to herself. And I want your com- 
pany, strange as it may appear.” 

She resumed her seat with a bitter smile. 

“ Is it not most singular that your sister should pre- 
fer to be alone so much? ” her step-mother said, light- 
ing the lamp on the center-table ; “ I cannot fathom 
the cause of it. I almost think there is something I do 
not know at the bottom of this mystery. If I only had 
the clue to it ! ” 

“ And have you no idea what it is ? ” Grace asked 
with a tinge of contempt; “ you who are so clever 
too!” 

“ No, I have not. Have you? ” 

“ Ask Hue—” 

She was on the verge of telling the secret, in a sec- 
ond the man’s name would have been out, but she 
paused, and in that moment the door-bell was rung in 
a quick, determined way, which made her think of 
Duncan. It was just his manner. 

Her step-mother laughed in sheer glee at the sound. 

“ Oh, my dear, I am positive that is for you ! ” she 
exclaimed, clapping her hands and rushing to the door ; 
“ I wager that is Duncan. What do you say ? Come, 
a box of Huyler’s caramels that it is ! Ha ! Ha ! ” 

She rose to her feet, and trembled as she stood. 

“ You have betrayed me into this man’s power,” she 
said in a low voice; “ you have sent for him.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


63 


“ Well, what if I have? He is our friend in need. 
Mind what I have said to you about him ! ” 

“ I will not see him ! ” 

“ Oh, yes, you will, dear. Go upstairs and make 
yourself presentable, while I get a nice supper ready in 
honor of your betrothal. We will do everything to 
make life sunny for you, if you will but yield. There, 
there ! Go up stairs, and make yourself pretty ! ” 

The girl was crying and sobbing. Without another 
word she left the room. 

Mrs. Larch received Duncan in her most radiant 
manner. She had won what was for her a great vic- 
tory; she was going to be mother-in-law to a rich and 
generous man, who did not appear difficult to manage. 

The future seemed happy at last. 


5 


VI 


Up in a small room a girl sat thinking in the dark. 
Since Cecily’s illness the girls had occupied single 
rooms, and now Grace was able to slip upstairs quietly 
and be alone for a few minutes. In those precious 
minutes she reviewed the past, studied the present, and 
as far as she could scanned the future. There had been 
little in the past; there was nothing in the present; 
and everything was promised in the future, as the wife 
of a wealthy man. Her home-life was far from being 
sweet; it never had been that at any time. She loved 
her sister, who did not care much for her; nobody did 
for that matter, except Adam Duncan. And such a 
change had come in their common life that it was 
impossible for her to go on in the old way, so perhaps 
her step-mother was correct in her views. She had 
better go away. 

She got that far in her thinking, but no farther, for 
some one came to the door and knocked. She opened 
it, and found the negro maid in the passage. 

“ Miss say to come down,” she said with a broad 
smile; “ Mr. Duncan wants to see you.” 

“ Very well, Blanche.” 

She lighted her lamp and bathed her face with lav- 
ender water, and smoothed her hair, but it was impos- 
sible to obliterate the signs of weeping. 

She went slowly down stairs to the parlor. 

Duncan was standing near the fire-place as she 
64 


THE WRONG WAY 


65 


entered, alone. It was probable he had been standing 
since his entrance, not as yet having gotten over his 
antipathy to the chairs of that room. He was exquis- 
itely neat in his New York apparel, and looked affluent 
and distinguished among the lares and penates of the 
Larch menage. 

“ Grace ! ” he exclaimed in a low voice, opening his 
arms wide to receive her. 

She stopped and hesitated; then went bravely up to 
him, and welcomed him with both hands outstretched 
instead. 

“ And you are going to say yes this time, are you 
not ? ” he said, taking her hands and drawing her close 
to him; “ and we shall be happy ever after.” 

“ You have come at Mrs. Larch’s bidding, have you 
not ? ” she asked point-blank. And she always called 
her Mrs. Larch from that evening. 

“ Not exactly. She has been writing to me lately 
about Cecily and a Colorado trip.” 

“ And did she not mention me at all ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, she mentioned you because she was anx- 
ious about you.” 

“ Anxious about me ! ” 

“ Anxious as to what you were to do and what would 
become of you during their absence. I knew what 
would become of you, for I have not changed my mind. 
I love you as well if not better to-night than I did a 
month ago, and so I have come to try my luck once 
more. You must marry me. Do you not see that it is 
your destiny? We can marry immediately, and they 
may go where they will. So matters will be adjusted 
and everybody satisfied.” 


66 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ You are to help them make the trip, I believe/’ 

“ Who told you that pretty story? ” 

“ Mrs. Larch.” 

“Oh! Well — yes — a trifle. You know how fond 
I am of your sister. Let this be my Christmas box to 
her. It is too small a thing to be discussed by you 
and me.” 

“ Mr. Duncan, may I be frank with you? ” 

“ Of course you may. A wife ought to be frank with 
her husband, eh, dear ? ” 

“You know how we are situated; you know how 
my father left us. And you have read my heart, and 
discovered that I am not happy at home. Your sym- 
pathies are awakened. You pity me.” 

“ I love you, you mean.” 

“ But pity begat it. Well, you are willing to marry 
me as I am. I know that you could marry far more 
advantageously, and I realize how unequal everything 
is between us. Do not interrupt me. Let me have my 
say out this time. I cannot rest unless I speak my 
mind. I am unhappy at home because I am not loved, 
and not wanted. I learn at last that I am of no use to 
these people; that I might just as well leave them. 
Instead of marrying me, will you not let me work — I 
mean aid me to do so? ” 

He laughed in a hearty way good to hear. 

“ No, indeed. I want you to be my wife — not a 
protegee. Now, permit some frankness on my part. 
I love you, and if you will be my wife I shall do every- 
thing to please you, and in time you will love me. You 
will become fond of your husband. I too see that you 
are a cypher in this household. I have known it for 


THE WRONG WAY 


67 


some years, and I want to take you out of it, and give 
you all that you have missed thus far in life. I love 
you so much that I want you to have everything. Mrs. 
Larch has informed me of your desire to earn a liveli- 
hood on the stage, and I am less in sympathy than 
she is. No, I want to marry you, and nothing less is 
in my mind. Come, my dear, you will never regret 
your marriage, and I shall take care that you do not 
mind the change from Tenbrook. Let Mrs. Larch and 
Cecily spend the winter in Colorado, and later on, if 
you like, I will take you there to see them, or we can 
make an excursion to the old world. I will do any- 
thing you fancy, if you will but marry me and love me 
a wee bit. Dear Grace ! ” 

There was an adorable light in the girl’s eyes as he 
spoke, and seeing it made him bold. He took her into 
his arms as though he owned her and drew her close 
to his breast, kissing her, and then laying his cheek 
against hers. 

“ Love me,” he whispered, “ and we shall be happy.” 

For awhile they stood thus in silence, heart to heart. 

“ My dear girl! ” he said presently; “ we need not 
wait any length of time before we are married, need 
we? To-day is Wednesday. Shall we say to-day 
week? Do not deny me.” 

“ That is as you wish. I am going to leave all to 
you.” 

“ Then it shall be a week from to-day. And do not 
worry over preparations for the event. There is no 
time for formality even if I cared for it. And you — ” 

The door was opened and Mrs. Larch entered in her 
airy, graceful way. Seeing how matters stood, she 


68 


THE WRONG WAY 


started back in counterfeit amazement and embarrass- 
ment, which was no doubt engaging from a certain 
point of view. 

“ I came to announce supper,” she explained; “ not 
to interrupt you in what seems a grave discussion. May 
I take part in it too? We might become eloquent, per- 
haps interesting, if we tried.” 

“ The discussion is closed,” Duncan said with a 
smile; “ the matter is settled and your part is ready 
for you. Congratulations are the order of the evening, 
and we are waiting.” 

She screamed, ran up to her step-daughter and kissed 
her lightly on the forehead — it was just a mere, dainty 
touch — nothing more — then she went to him and 
extended her hand with an enchanting air. 

“ And so you two have agreed to be one! You give 
up freedom, single blessedness, to be joined together 
in holy matrimony! ‘ Two souls with but a single 
thought; two hearts that beat as one.’ I do congratu- 
late you and wish you every joy. Oh, how proud this 
occasion would have made Mr. Larch ! He loved you, 
Mr. Duncan, and Grace dear was the apple of his eye.” 

Grace dear was irritated by all this, and she would 
gladly have left the room in order to avoid it, but she 
did not see the way clear to doing that. So she had to 
remain, and suffer, and endure. However, there was 
a bit of comfort in the fact that there comes an end to 
all things if one waits, and soon this insincere woman 
would pass out of her life, with all these airs and 
graces, foolish talk and double entendres — it was to be 
hoped, forever. It would be a delightful change never 
to see her again, and so her marriage with Mr. Duncan 


THE WRONG WAY 


69 


had at least one element of charm in it, if nothing else. 

“ How surprised Cecily will be/' the woman rattled 
on; “ and delighted too ! She has the greatest possible 
admiration for you, Mr. Duncan, and only this morn- 
ing was saying that you were the ideal friend — our best 
friend in fact. We were enumerating your many beau- 
tiful kindnesses to us all these years. How glad she 
will be to know you are to marry our dear Grace ! But 
I think that she and I have had our suspicions about 
your frequent visits to Tenbrook some time past. Do 
not think that you threw dust into our eyes. We saw 
you were matrimonially inclined.” 

He laughed and looked as though he enjoyed the 
talk. But then he was a man, and the general run of 
men relish this sort of thing, if they happen to be the 
hero of the occasion, and there never was a better- 
posted woman than Mrs. Larch in this respect. 

“ But supper is waiting/’ she said, suddenly darting 
from this fascinating subject; “ and whether you are 
in love or not, .1 feel sure you will do justice to my 
fried oysters, my buttered toast, my coffee, my poached 
eggs, and my other delicacies. I have yet to see the 
man who is not equal to a nice meal however deeply 
in love or sorrow he may be.” 

She led the way to the dining-room laughing gayly 
at his protestations, leaving Grace to follow with her 
fiance . The room was brilliantly illuminated, and the 
table was extremely well arranged for the occasion. 
At a glance the girl saw that, metaphorically, the best 
foot had been thrust forward. The finest linen and 
best table appointments they possessed were out in 
imposing array. In the centre of the board was a large 


70 


THE WRONG WAY 


glass bowl filled with rose geranium leaves and flowers 
that represented the entire wealth of their few plants. 
Even the negro maid was prepared for the event, and 
stood resplendent in snowy apron and collar, smiling 
in the background. 

“ Cecily will not be with us,” the hostess said, 
assigning the places, and arranging the coffee equipage, 
while the maid passed the fried oysters and Saratoga 
chips; “ she is not well and she retired before she knew 
you were here. I shall be delighted to make a change 
for her as soon as possible.” 

“ You can do so at once,” Duncan said, with a smile 
for his fiancee; “ it is settled, you know. Grace and I 
go away next Wednesday afternoon.” 

“ So soon ? This is a surprise. I do not see how it 
can be done by that time. Women, you know, must 
make any number of engagements with milliners and 
dressmakers preparatory to marriage;” 

“ Grace is going to let all that go. There will be 
enough time for that work afterward, and you are 
aware how much better it can be done in New York. 
And she will want something to do, I daresay. My 
sister is there to help her, not to speak of myself.” 

“ Oh ! Well, then we can leave the day after, Thurs- 
day, and I may tell the doctor something definite about 
the house. He is anxious to get his patient here as 
early as possible.” 

And so the talk went on, Grace for the most part 
saying little. It was not necessary that she should 
make small talk when her step-mother was around, for 
that lady was an adept at this rare accomplishment, 
and moreover partial to the sound of her own voice. 


THE WKONG WAY 


71 


She carried the supper through lightly, being in high 
spirits, and for once the girl ought to have been grateful 
to her, but gratitude is an unknown quantity nowadays 
— an uncertain thing at any time. 

Presently she left them together — and dear, old 
Time, who does not wait on anybody, at last sent the 
man flushed and blissful away to his hotel to dream of 
what was before him, leaving the bride-elect alone. 
How many thanks mortals owe that same dear, old 
Time for gracious favors rendered! 

The front door locked, the girl stood for a moment 
in the hallway, warm and rosy after the passionate 
embraces of her prospective husband. She still felt 
his arms about her, his lips on her face, his love-words 
ringing in her ears. She belonged to him; she felt 
that she was a part of him. She stood there thinking 
of this. Finally she roused herself; a clock was strik- 
ing eleven. She waited for the final stroke, then extin- 
guished the various lamps in the parlor and elsewhere, 
and sought her bedroom. To reach it she had to pass 
Cecily's, and to her amaze she found that that door was 
open and her sister not in bed. She was half-lying, 
half-sitting on the floor beside the window, and the pale 
light of the young moon lit up the outlines of her trim 
figure and lovely face. The clear, cold heavens 
stretched above, a mass of glittering stars, and she was 
gazing at them wistfully. 

“ What! Still up,” Grace asked from the threshold; 
“ Oh, how imprudent of you ! ” 

“ I was waiting for you. That man has gone at last. 
Have you not something to tell me ? I have been wait- 
ing for that.” 


72 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Perhaps. But it might have been kept until morn- 
ing” 

“ Mother was in here before she went to bed.” 

“ I expected as much. I do not believe there is any- 
thing for me to tell you now.” 

“ She told me — ” 

“ That you may leave for Colorado next week, and 
that I am going to be Mrs. Adam Duncan? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Well, there is nothing to tell after all.” 

“ So you will marry this man ! It will be charming 
as the wife of a man whose income is $40,000 per 
annum. The possibilities of enjoyment in that case 
are dazzling.” 

“ I knew you would be of that opinion.” 

“ And to think that I fancied he was courting our 
mother ! She is more suited to him than you — ” 

“ But you see he wants me, and he is able to please 
himself. Such is the way of man.” 

“ It is to be next week, and we are to leave home too 
at the same time. Dear, I have been quite well since 
mother told me this. The uncertainty I have endured 
of late relative to Huerfano Tejon has been too much 
for me. Now, I shall seek him, since he has forsaken 
me, and in far Colorado learn the truth.” 

“ I do not think he has forsaken you. There is some 
mistake, depend upon it.” 

“ It is three weeks since we parted, and in that long 
time I have not had a single sign. Is it not cruel? ” 

“ No news is good news.” 

“ But I shall go to him. If I did not see him soon — • 
if he did not acknowledge our marriage — I should be 


THE WRONG WAY 


73 


unable to live. I lied to you the day of my return from 
Hartford. I will tell you the truth. Bend your head 
down. So. I am afraid of the very walls.” 

After the whisper Grace stood up tall and straight. 
The heavens seemed colder, and the stars glittered in 
her eyes. 

“ It is time you went to Colorado, and found your 
husband. You have made a mistake, and the sooner 
it is rectified the better. Take my advice, tell your 
mother. She will be equal to managing the affair. In 
a fortnight you will meet Huerfano Tejon face to face, 
and all is well that ends well. You will be happy yet.” 

“ Are you going? Kiss me good-night. I wish you 
a beautiful life as Mrs. Duncan.” 

“ Good-night. I am tired of kissing. I think kissing 
a big humbug, really foolish. Excuse me, please — 
to-night.” 

“ You are so cold, so proud; but perhaps you may 
undergo a change some day. You are stiff, irre- 
sponsive — a prude ! Good-night.” 

Grace smiled under the reproof. Of course she was 
full of faults, that was well known by this time, and 
these same failings were held up to her every day of 
her life, and dwelt upon until she at last viewed them 
with indifference, half pitiful, half disdainful. Was it 
worth while to try to remedy them and make herself 
an ignis ardens in the petty world in which she moved ? 
She did not think it was. 


VII 


“ What is love ? A ceaseless stream, 

A changeless star, an endless dream, 

A smiling flower that will not die, 

A beauty, and a mystery. 

Its storms as light as April showers, 

Its joys as bright as April flowers, 

Its hopes as sweet as summer air, 

And dark as winter its despair.” 

At eleven o'clock the next day Cecily found herself 
in full possession of the parlor and the lounge. The 
weather had cleared off, fair, bracing, frosty, and Dun- 
can and Grace were out for a lovers' ramble in those 
woods wherein he had declared his love a few weeks 
since. He had proposed the outing himself, because 
he wished to talk the future over with his bride-elect, 
without the presence and interruptions of the Larch 
family, and also because anything approaching inti- 
mate and loving talk in the crowded company room of 
the house, seemed to him practically out of the question. 
So at ten o'clock he came beaming with happiness and 
satisfaction, to ask for the walk. He looked so bright 
and handsome that Grace at once consented, and more- 
over went with a feeling of pleasure and pride. In 
many particulars he appealed to her, and there had 
always been that good fellowship between them which 
is the result of long acquaintance and tastes in common, 
and which, say what one will, is really a fair substitute 
74 


THE WRONG WAY 


75 


for the fever and delirium called love, because in the 
daily fret of life it wears infinitely better. 

She admired his straight, strong figure invariably 
clothed in the best sartorial style, his expressive and 
cleanly-shaven face, and thick fair hair. There was 
nothing about him mean, or slovenly or commonplace. 
On the contrary he had a distinguished air and gave 
one the impression of ease and wealth at the first 
glance, as well as being every inch a man. 

'Mrs. Larch and Cicely were upstairs in the room of 
the latter watching the pair on their way to the woods. 

“ A splendid, bonny couple ! ” the former said with a 
laugh; “ he is so fair and strong and she so dark. May 
good angels attend them, and Hymen keep watch too ! ” 

“I am going out,” she next announced; “ on a 
foraging expedition, and Tenbrook will have to yield 
up to me its best to-day. We have a man on hand, my 
dear. And for three days I shall feed him well. I 
mean to get a strong hold on his regard. At the end 
of these three days he returns home to make arrange- 
ments for the home-bringing of the bride. He will not 
be back until Tuesday afternoon. I know Duncan is 
in love. It is as plain as the nose on your face. How- 
ever, always bear in mind this sensible saying when 
dealing with the male biped : 

“ But man is a carnivorous production 

And must have meals — at least one meal a day ; 

He cannot live, like woodcocks, upon suction, 

But, like the shark and tiger, must have prey.” 

After that sally she went forth with malicious pleas- 
ure to brave and harass the village butchers and green 


76 


THE WRONG WAY 


grocers, a process in which she stood without a single 
rival. 

Not long after her departure, Cecily sought the par- 
lor, which early in the morning had been put in order 
for the benefit of Duncan and Grace, and gave up the 
upper regions to the care of the negro maid, whom 
through closed doors she could hear vigorously sweep- 
ing and beating to a mournful singing of “ I’m a rolling 
through this troublesome world.” 

She stretched herself on the lounge with a faint 
smile, first propping the silken pillows at her head and 
back. The smile was due to an item she had read in 
the morning newspaper she held in her hand ready for 
future perusal as soon as she was comfortably placed, 
which said that the pillow was the reigning society 
fad; that it had always been a favorite, especially with 
the man who has to make the fire and hates to get up ; 
but now society women have gone daft over it. The 
watchword is “ Lounge! ” and they do it to the queen’s 
taste. Hence one sees more divans and these are loaded 
down with the softest of pillows, of all shades of silk, 
satin or light plush, their cost enhanced by clouds of 
filmy lace. Upon these my lady reclines at leisure and 
dreams the hours away in supreme content feeling that 
she is enjoying comfort. She read it over again, for 
it struck her as both amusing and apropos. 

The door-bell rang. She listened to the maid coming 
down the stairs and opening the door, but without 
curiosity. Her mother no doubt had returned for 
something she probably had forgotten on going out. 

The parlor door was flung back softly. She looked up 
and saw Huerfano Tejon standing on the threshold 


THE WRONG WAY 


77 


with a smile ! She covered her face with her hands as 
though to shut out the sight of him. 

Tejon noticed the unwelcoming gesture, and ran 
forward, threw himself on his knees by the lounge, and 
impetuously folded her in his arms. He seemed to 
love her dearly, if manner counts. 

“ What! you are not glad to see me? ” he cried with 
reproach ; “ and we have been so long apart too. Take 
your hands down and look me straight in the face, and 
say you are glad to see me again. Cruel Cecily ! Is 
this the way to receive me? ” 

She did not obey orders. 

“ Cruel Huerfano, you mean,” she said instead, and 
through her fingers. 

“ No, I do not. You have treated me abominably.” 

Down the hands fell at that and she tried to push 
him from her, but without succeeding. He held her 
even tighter than before — if possible. 

“ I have longed for this meeting, and how you wel- 
come me! Have you forgotten the past — what we 
have been to one another? Remember Hartford.” 

“ I have not forgotten, but you have apparently. 
Did I deserve the treatment I received at your hands ? 
Tell me what you think I ought to have had from you. 
I should like to know your estimate of such things.” 

He laughed in her rosy, angry face, and clasped her 
hands tightly in his, and swung them to and fro as 
children do. 

“ I will not be blamed till I have rendered an explana- 
tion. After that you may frown and scold me as much 
as you like. But you cannot be really angry with me, 
for we are far too dear to one another, are we not ? ” 


78 


THE WRONG WAY 


She averted her head and looked across the room at 
the “ Angelus ” on the easel, determining to punish him 
with unfriendly gaze and reticence, as he most justly 
deserved for what he had done. 

A low, amused laugh and a lingering kiss were the 
only rewards for her pains. 

“ You are so pretty in anger,” he whispered, laying 
his cheek to hers; “ sweetheart, I love you. I like to 
see you so.” 

Then with tenderness he added this : 

"You have been ill. I see a change in you. What 
has been the matter? ” 

Her mouth quivered at the corners — her eyes clouded 
with tears — she longed to throw herself upon his breast 
and weep away the heaviness, the disappointment of 
the past three weeks, * but she thought better of the 
impulse, and still refused to speak to him. Had he 
not been unkind to her ? He ought to be punished. 

He put his arms around her and pressed her face 
to his. 

“ There; now tell me what has been the matter. I 
know you have been ill. Your face is tell-tale.” 

She began to sob. 

“ I have been ill, most anxious, and full of longing 
for you. But I am happy now. How good it is to be 
with you again! Yes, hold me so; it gladdens my 
whole being.” 

Some time passed in silence while he caressed and 
soothed his wife. 

“ Do you not wish to hear what I have to say in 
explanation ? ” he asked after awhile, but not moving. 
"Yes? As soon as I reached Colorado I attended to 


THE WRONG WAY 


79 


all the funeral arrangements of my dear uncle, then I 
was compelled to go to Aspen and Trinidad because of 
certain unexpected developments in my mining inter- 
ests in those places. On my return to Colorado Springs 
I had two real estate deals on hand that prevented my 
coming east at once for you as I intended. However, 
the moment this was adjusted I left. In Chicago I had 
to see three men who would not be put off till the return 
trip, and that detained me a few days more. That is 
all.” 

“ You are quite an expert in making excuses.” 

“ Are you not satisfied ? ” 

“ Not exactly. But I begin to comprehend what is 
before me. Tell me, pray, why you never wrote me. 
Surely you can explain that too.” 

“ I did write.” 

“ Oh!” 

“ I did.” 

“ Every day?” 

“ Every day — or nearly. And besides that I sent 
you various dispatches from time to time.” 

“ Of course you did ! ” 

“ I was furious at the way you treated me. You 
never sent me a line, and my letters and dispatches were 
ignored. It is I that should be angry, wounded and 
resentful — not you, dearest.” 

“ I expected that you would blame me. Yes, I have 
no doubt but that I am the culprit. Women are always 
in the wrong.” 

“ I was deeply pained at such unkind treatment.” 

“ And you are waiting for me to apologize, I dare- 
say.” 


6 


80 


THE WKONG WAY 


“ I think you might show that you are really sorry/’ 

“ But I am not. I have nothing for which to be 
sorry. I have done nothing to hurt your feelings.” 

“ No?” 

“ Nothing. It is you who have been cruel and 
unkind. I never heard from you. The first ten days 
I was ill in bed with typhoid fever, and on my recovery 
I went to the postoffice and inquired for letters, but 
there were none. After that I began writing to you, 
sometimes twice a day. And yet you come here and 
play the role of the injured one. It is contemptible.” 

Tejon gave her a hug and laughed. 

“ You are a dear, dear simpleton,” he said; “ I see 
I am going to have a warm time of it with you. Feel 
in my breast pocket, you silly girl.” 

She would not, but kissed him on the eyes instead. 

“ Feel, and obtain the explanation of this mystery.” 

He forced her hands into the pockets and made her 
take therefrom several packages of letters. There were 
over twenty letters addressed to Mrs. Huerfano Tejon, 
Tenbrook, Massachusetts, various telegrams all marked 
“ unknown ” or “ uncalled for,” and a second package 
addressed to Mr. Huerfano Tejon, Colorado Springs, 
Colorado, which was stamped with “ To be forwarded 
to Tenbrook, Massachusetts.” The first package was 
in his chirography, the second in hers, and none of the 
letters had been opened and read as yet. 

“ What do you say now ? Did I not write every 
day? As soon as I reached Tenbrook, which was late 
last night, I saw the telegraph operator and learned 
from him that he had been unable to find Mrs. Huer- 
fano Tejon, and this morning I also learned the same 


THE WRONG WAY 


81 


thing at the post-office. There was no one of that name 
here. At the hotel I found your letters, with others, 
forwarded from Colorado as I had given orders. I 
have not read one of them yet, you see.” 

“ I asked at the post-office for letters for Mrs. Huer- 
fano Tejon, as well as Miss Cecily Larch.” 

“ But did you write out the name or pronounce it? ” 

“ I spoke it.” 

“ Well, you might have known they would never be 
any the wiser. I had to write it out before your stupid 
postmaster could get it into his noddle. After that it 
was clear sailing. The letters have accumulated there 
and have even been advertised. I never dreamed that 
any effusion of mine could receive such cavalier treat- 
ment as this. Oh, what a joke this is, to be sure ! ” 

And he laughed until he was red in the face. 

“ And fancy that I have written to your mother — ” 

“ What?” 

“ Asking where you were and what had become of 
you.” 

“ But I have told her nothing. She does not know 
that we are married.” 

“ I did not tell you not to let her know. I think you 
should have told your mother and prepared her for me. 
I shall be afraid to meet her now. I informed my peo- 
ple and they are delighted at my having a wife. A 
warm welcome is awaiting you in Colorado.” 

“ Do not fear my mother. She will rejoice to see 
me happy, and as for the rest — I mean as to liking you 
— there can be no question at all. I will vouch for 
that.” 

“ May I see her now ? The sooner we get the ordeal 


82 


THE WRONG WAY 


over the better for all of us. I shall not then have this 
miserable quaking sensation that annoys me. Is she 
at home? ” 

“ No, had she been, you would not have enjoyed so 
excellent an opportunity of making your peace with 
me, sir. She is out marketing, but I look for her any 
moment.” 

As she finished speaking they heard somebody enter 
the house. 

“ It is she/' his wife said. 

Tejon proposed that they should stand facing the 
door, arm in arm, and together meet her so. 

“ Are you scared? she laughed, nestling close to 
him. 

Unprepared her mother entered a few moments later, 
untying her bonnet strings as she came. At the sight 
before her she paused abruptly, colored, and let her 
bonnet-strings alone. For a full minute the three eyed 
each other in silence. 

“ What does this mean ? ” she asked, being the first 
to recover; “ who is this gentleman? ” 

The daughter was afraid to answer, so looked at 
her husband. 

“ I am Huerfano Tejon, of Colorado Springs,” he 
said for her. 

“ Are you indeed? Well, go on, I am no wiser 
for the information.” 

“ I am your daughter's husband too — your son-in- 
law.” 

Mrs. Larch gasped, and unable to stand, sank into 
the nearest chair, limp and helpless. 

“ Yes,” the girl chimed in; “ he is my husband. We 


THE WRONG WAY 


83 


were secretly married at Hartford three weeks ago.” 

“ In grate! ” her mother said in an angry voice. 

“ Do not scold her, but blame me. I urged her to 
take the step.” And he explained the matter in brief 
and matter-of-fact man fashion. 

“ I believe you are out of your mind,” Mrs. Larch 
said as he concluded; “both of you. I never knew 
anything quite as ridiculous as this. And so, Cecily, 
this is what has changed you and puzzled me so much ? 
I begin to see at last.” 

She nodded her head and laughed at her mother. 

“ She intended to let me tell you. I was to be in 
Tenbrook within ten days after her return, and so she 
waited. I did not come; she fell ill; time passed. I 
was detained by various urgent business matters. 
After that she was somewhat afraid of you.” 

“ Now I see why you wished to go to Colorado. 
And I recall this gentleman’s name. You told us about 
his being in Hartford when you were there, but I did 
not know he was from the far west, or if you told me, 
I must have forgotten it. Well, I must make the best 
of it, I see, and offer my congratulations.” 

“ You must forgive and forget, dear mother, and 
love my husband for my sake. I love him, and am 
happy now he has come back to me.” 

“ Men are men; the best sometimes forget. That is 
what the bard of Avon said, and he meant women too. 
I see how happy you are, Cecily. Kiss me. Mr. Tejon, 
you may kiss me also.” 

He obeyed in a frank and manly way. 

“I never was happier in my life,” he said gayly; 
“ family ties agree with me. And you must know that 


84 


THE WRONG WAY 


I have been a thorough bachelor. But I am totally 
reformed now. However, happy as I am, there is still 
something on my mind. Allow me to ask, Mrs. Larch, 
if you have been to the post-office this morning? ” 

“ Yes, I have been there. Some one must go once 
a day.” 

“ Did you get any letters? ” 

“ Yes, quite a number. They are in my pocket. I 
have had no time to read them yet.” 

“ Two are from me and you need not read them. 
Oblige me by destroying them, please.” 

“ Here they are,” she said, sorting them out, and 
handing them to him; “ my amiability is, as you see, 
greater than my curiosity.” 

“ Thank you. They are tedious letters asking why 
I did not hear from my wife, and really not worth 
your reading, but some day I shall write you far more 
entertainingly if I have the chance.” 

“ You will find that I am unsatiable concerning let- 
ters. But we shall discuss the matter later on. I must 
leave you to the tender mercies of Cecily, because I am 
the high priestess of the kitchen. Of course you dine 
with us. I can- discount any effort the Tenbrook hotel 
may make in the culinary line, I assure you.” 

“ And you will become acquainted with your future 
brother-in-law,” the young wife put in — “ Mr. Adam 
Duncan, of New York, is here. Grace and he are 
engaged, and their wedding takes place next Wednes- 
day. You have arrived on the scene in the nick of 
time, for you shall give the bride away, being the male 
representative of the family.” And she clapped her 
hands in childish glee, and laughed in her old way. 


THE WRONG WAY 


85 


“ In the meantime,” Mrs. Larch said, about to leave 
the room; “ you had better tell Mr. Tejon all about the 
western trip. Married people must not have secrets 
from each other. I used to make my husband tell me 
every thing, and he and I were cited far and near as a 
devoted couple. Married life is all right, if you man- 
age it in the proper way/' 

The next moment she left the room, and they were 
alone with their happiness, which was still a wonder 
and a glory to both of them. 


VIII 


My dear Miss Larch : 

My brother has just returned home, and we have had 
a delightful, confidential chat. It was one of those 
rare, but charming family talks that illumine the often 
monotonous daily round. 

I have been informed what is to occur next Wednes- 
day forenoon. Hymen is to light his torch once again 
and wait on you. I immediately avail myself of this 
opportunity to waive ceremony and write you a letter. 
Accept my hearty and sincere congratulations. 

Pardon me for saying that the announcement of my 
brother’s approaching marriage is a great surprise. 
Indeed I am not sure that I have quite recovered yet. 
Bear in mind, however, the many years that Adam has 
walked through life in single blessedness, and, as I 
innocently supposed, fancy free, and you will admit 
that the surprise is but a matter of course. 

We have remarked his frequent absences from home, 
but since he is a man, and we are given to understand 
that there were business matters in Boston of an impor- 
tant nature that must be attended to, why it was beyond 
our poor powers of divination to see Tenbrook and 
Cupid on the way. This is but another instance of the 
remarkably elastic nature of business matters abroad. 
But believe me the surprise aforesaid is in no sense 
unpleasant. We are truly happy because you two are 
happy. By we, I mean myself and Elsie, my little 
86 


THE WRONG WAY 


87 


daughter. It would be unkind and certainly selfish if 
we did not cheerfully enter into any arrangement near 
to Adam’s heart. And this one must be very near. 
He has been so good, so kind, so generous to us. 
Without him I do not know what would have happened. 
Perhaps you have heard that my life has been more or 
less checkered. But you can never realize all that it 
was. I am one of the silly American girls who marry 
titles. I am now at home without husband, money or 
home, a dependent on my brother and, disagreeable as 
such a situation might be to some, I am only too thank- 
ful for that dear shelter and peace. When you have 
suffered almost every form of degradation it is good to 
be at peace again. No one is to blame for my misfor- 
tune but myself. I would marry my high-bred gentle- 
man, in spite of everything that was said and done to 
prevent it. And if everybody was right and I alone 
wrong, why my fault is all the more evident. After 
every effort to dissuade me from taking a step which 
appeared most hazardous to him, Adam yielded, and 
for love of me made the marriage possible. I received 
at his hands a handsome dot — and a titled husband. I 
ought to have been happy, for I loved the man and 
everything about him. I was fool enough to think that 
he loved me. It took nine years to convince me that he 
did not, and in that time I endured what I thought was 
exceptional wretchedness. However, I find that many 
wives have similar experiences, whether their lords are 
titled or not. A man is a man, call him patrician or 
plebeian. You will wonder why I write you thus. For 
two reasons : I want you to know what a good man 
Adam is, and also certain points about myself. It is 


88 


THE WRONG WAY 


better to get them first-hand than from any outside 
source. Nine wretched years passed, and then Adam 
came to the rescue, and I obtained my release. My 
money was gone, and there was no prospect of more, 
so the matter was quickly and easily adjusted. Adam 
brought Elsie and me home. Let me tell you there 
never lived a better man, a dearer friend, a more gen- 
erous and loyal brother. Consider yourself a most 
fortunate girl in winning such a husband. He will 
make you a blessed wife. 

His home is mine; I hope it will continue to be mine. 
I trust that you will like me well enough to permit me 
to remain. I have no other home. I shall try to win 
your love and esteem. As soon as you enter the house 
I shall of course abdicate in your favor, relinquishing 
all rights vested in me as the nominal head of the same. 
My place is now necessarily secondary. Do not for a 
second imagine that this will be disagreeable to me in 
any respect. I assure you that it is not. You will be 
the mistress, and you should assume your proper place 
at once on your arrival. The house is commodious. 
Elsie and I are allotted a suite of rooms quite apart 
from the rest of the general household, where we are 
most comfortable, and reign supreme. Surely that 
ought to be sufficient for a dependent woman, if she 
is reasonable. And I flatter myself I am at least that — 
if nothing else. 

There is no reason why we should not be a har- 
monious household. There can be no doubt of your 
liking Elsie and me. We have a wide reputation for 
being charming. Do you think this egotism? It is 
the simple truth — no doubt! 


THE WRONG WAY 


89 


I do not regard you as a total stranger. You may 
not be aware that I knew your father slightly, but 
enough for admiration, and that I have heard a good 
deal about your family from time to time. I have 
always desired the pleasure of your acquaintance. My 
life in Europe has prevented the formation of friend- 
ships in America. However, the European part is 
over forever; I have excellent opportunities now. I 
look forward to seeing you with genuine interest, and 
I promise you a cordial welcome to New York. Were 
it possible I would be present at the wedding ceremony. 
Will you accept a small gift from Elsie and me? I 
got it in Florence ten years ago when I was young, 
simple, gay, light-hearted. I have worn it but twice, 
once at the opera when I promessi Sposi was being 
sung — the night I fell in love with my title — and again 
on my betrothal. I could go to Tiffany's and buy you 
a costlier present, but there would be no associations, 
and what are presents without them? To me — noth- 
ing. This bauble lay, a hundred years ago, in the jewel 
casket of a beautiful Contessina who loved, like myself, 
not wisely but too well. I will tell you its history some 
day, providing you care to hear a tale of woe. 

With many kind wishes, believe me, 

Sincerely yours, 

Lelia Aus der Schlogl. 

Madison Square , 3 November. 

The gift accompanying the letter was a collarette 
of silver filagree, exquisitely made, and studded with 
pearls and turquoises — a rare, old jewel that spoke of 
a rich and remote past. 


IX 


Wednesday came, and with it the clearest sky and 
brightest sunshine. Old Sol intended to rejoice on this 
wedding day, if never again. And oh, how shabby 
and poor he made the little Larch parlor look! All 
the cheapness and foolishness came out more promi- 
nently than ever under the golden rays of light. The 
flowers placed in the various unoccupied spots were not 
able to divert attention from the decorative monstros- 
ities and the wholesale pretense. 

However, Mrs. Larch and Cecily were resplendent 
in new gowns and jewels. The former was extremely 
pretty and, as she thought irresistible, in an expensive 
gown of cream-colored cloth, her fluffy brown hair 
charmingly arranged, and every diamond on, and in 
constant sparkle too. 

Cecily had regained her looks, and was radiant. 
Tejon had accomplished this, and he was quite at home 
in the family. His high spirits were contagious, and 
the house rang with his voice and his laugh. The very 
atmosphere palpitated with his presence. There had 
been a rush, a go, a magnetic glow about everything 
from the time he entered the house, which no one could 
resist, even if so disposed. And certainly nobody in 
the small group desired to be churlish. The world loves 
a lover, and these people were no exception to that 
pleasant rule. Tejon loved with frankness and fervor 
and abandon. And the blush, the glamour, of the first 
90 


THE WRONG WAY 


91 


stage of wedded love shone on and over him and radi- 
ating forth, touched all that were near, even Grace, 
and the negro maid of all work. 

Cecily loved him, Mrs. Larch loved him and pam- 
pered him in every imaginable way, her usual method 
with the male species, and everybody was looking on 
and listening; consequently in that atmosphere the 
young husband yielded to love without a struggle. It 
was his mood, his pleasure, to be open, demonstrative, 
and when a handsome man is that his love talk and acts 
are beautiful and engaging. 

Now he stood, at high noon, in the centre of that 
woman’s room, tall, slim, straight-limbed, with a daz- 
zling light in his dark eyes, a warm glow in the south- 
ern face, a peculiarly attractive something emanating 
from his happy presence, for which it is hard to find 
a suitable definition, with the bridal couple to the right 
of him and the Reverend Cyprian Raleigh in front. 
In the background stood Mrs. Larch, Cecily, a few old 
and intimate friends, and the smiling negro maid. The 
brightest person in the room, however, was the young 
man who was to give the bride away. 

The bridegroom was perfection as to linen and 
clothes, and looked happy, though unusually quiet and 
dignified. Evidently he took the situation in its most 
serious phase. What he was engaged in partook of the 
nature of a sacrament. As he stood there apparently 
listening to what the presbyter said, he reviewed his 
life, and thought of the future — thought of what he 
ought to be to the woman beside him, and what she 
was going to be to him — of the mysterious union of 
which they were to be the component parts — of the 


92 


THE WRONG WAY 


sacredness, the beauty, and the tenderness of marriage 
— of the perfected happiness in the double life and of 
the dear possibilities that were before him — with an 
honest, manly prayer to God that as Isaac and Rebecca 
lived faithfully together so he and Grace might be 
blessed, and surely perform and keep the vow and cove- 
nant there betwixt them made. 

And the bride? She was lost — leagues and leagues 
away from her surroundings — in a dream, scarcely 
knowing what was being said or done. She stood there 
as though in a trance, her head slightly bent, her eyes 
fastened on the rug before them, listening, but not 
understanding. 

That day the associated press telegraphed to every 
part of the country, which no doubt was consumed by a 
fever of desire for information of this particular mar- 
riage, full details of the bridegroom, his appearance, 
age, business and wealth, each point more or less exag- 
gerated, and also about the bride, adding that she wore 
a Blitzen traveling gown of smooth, fine pearl gray 
cloth embroidered in silver and made with a jacket of 
the same material, and further that a small round hat 
of gray touched with white and silver was raised above 
her closely-coiled and braided hair, and that she carried 
a bouquet of white orchids and lilies of the valley. 

In reality she had not as yet arrived at the Blitzen 
stage of civilization; she stood there as the village 
dressmaker had turned her out for the occasion, but of 
course the jaded public must have the best imaginative 
power of Jenkins at all times. 

The ceremony was over. They were man and wife 
in the presence of God and men. The Rev. Mr. 


THE WRONG WAY 


93 


Raleigh said his neat formula that had done duty for 
twenty years, and stepped aside. Duncan kissed Grace 
with a strange, deep light in his clear gray eyes. That 
glance made her realize what had happened more than 
anything else, and under it she trembled. She was 
his ! Maidenhood was behind her, never to return. 

A ripple of congratulation broke out on all sides of 
her, to which the husband responded in a gallant fash- 
ion, admirable in its way. She hardly heard what was 
said. Presently she came to herself: someone was 
saying it was time to take leave, for their train would 
soon be due. 

In a quick, nervous manner she kissed her step- 
mother and sister, and ran out of the room, out of the 
house, to the carriage in waiting, leaving her husband 
to follow. With a laugh he bade everyone a cere- 
monious good-by, not even omitting the maid. The 
next moment he was seated beside his wife, holding 
her hand, and the driver was whipping the horses as 
they rushed away. 

“Why do you not look back?” he cried; “see, 
there they are at the window kissing their hands to us.” 
And he kissed his in return. 

“ I do not wish to do so,” she answered ; “ I have 
said farewell. And I never look back, if I can help it. 
Blanche would tell you that it is unlucky to look back.” 

Yes, she had said farewell to her old home in Ten- 
brook — she would never see it again — save in dream- 
land. She had uttered the eternal adieu. 

Mrs. Larch laughed gayly as the carriage rattled out 
of sight, and in her airiest manner quoted dear, old 
Dickens, paraphrasing somewhat to suit the occasion : 


94 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ ‘ So, she leaning on her husband’s arm, they drove 
homeward by a rosy path which the gracious sun struck 
out for them in its setting. And O there are days in 
this life, worth life and worth death. And O what a 
bright, old song it is, that O ’tis love, ’tis love, ’tis 
love, that makes the world go round ! ’ ” 


X 


The newly-made benedict had engaged corner seats 
in the palace car for himself and bride, in order to 
obtain as much seclusion as possible under the circum- 
stances. The car was filled with the usual well-dressed 
and distinguished-looking men and women seen trav- 
eling between New York and Boston at certain hours 
of the day. Complete privacy was of course out of the 
question, but under cover of the gay talk and laughter 
on every side a reasonable degree of it was possible. 

“ I could not get the drawing-room/’ he said, as 
soon as they were seated; “ it was taken in Boston 
by the prima ballerina of the opera and she, her maid, 
and her dog are in there now.” 

“ This will do. I enjoy watching people, and no one 
suspects us — apparently. We shall reach New York 
without receiving impertinent attention. These people 
are well-bred.” 

He nestled closer to her, and looked deep into her 
eyes. It was the husband’s glance. 

“ I am so happy,” he said softly; “ little did I dare 
to dream a month ago, when traveling over this road, 
that I should soon make the trip again with you as my 
wife. Oh, Grace, the present and the future are indeed 
sunlit and full for you and me.” 

She looked at him with a smile. 


95 


96 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ I shall do everything in my power to please you,” 
she said demurely. 

“ That will be an easy matter. You have only to 
love me — a little bit. That is all.” 

“ Is it love me little, love me long? ” 

“ Yes.” 

A pause. 

She did not care for small talk just then; she desired 
rather to be silent, to think, to realize in some measure 
the present situation, if she could. He, however, was 
of a different mind, being in a talkative mood, so she 
put her own inclination aside, and humored him. 

“ Talk to me,” she said. 

“ What about?” 

“ Any thing. I have no choice.” 

He laughed at her. 

“ Suppose I tell you something of your future home? 
You have asked few questions concerning it, and you 
have never been in New York any length of time. Are 
you not afraid to enter a household where everything 
is unfamiliar, of which you know nothing? ” 

“ No, you will be beside me. And why should I 
fear? Besides everything is not unfamiliar to me. 
Have I not heard of you and your home all my life? 
I am not afraid. Still, you may tell me about it, if 
you please, so that I may be prepared for any strange- 
ness awaiting me there.” 

“ We live on North Madison Square, and — ” 

“ Pardon my interrupting you, but explain what is 
comprised under that pronoun.” 

“ My sister, her little girl and myself.” 

“ Lelia Aus der Schlogl and Elsie ? I had a charming 


THE WRONG WAY 


97 


letter from your sister the other day, welcoming me 
into the family. I will show it to you when my trunk 
is unpacked. But proceed.” 

“ Our house is a large double building not exactly 
in the present ultra fashionable quarter, but most con- 
venient and select, nevertheless. The surroundings are 
attractive at all seasons, and in a few minutes’ walk 
one is in the thick of the life of the metropolis. To 
me this compensates for much that is to be found in 
Seventy-second street, upper Fifth avenue, or on the 
Riverside drive. I have a pardonable fondness for 
my home, and I have every reason to believe that you 
will like it fully as much as I do, in time. In such a 
house naturally the housekeeping lines are broad, and 
no doubt somewhat different to those to which you are 
accustomed.” 

“ In what way ? ” 

“ The house is in charge of an experienced house- 
keeper, whom I have had for years. In that direction 
you will be relieved of every care. We have a butler, 
who with the assistance of a parlor maid, rules the di- 
ning-room, wine cellar, and the first floor of the house. 
An experienced cook, two maids and the coachman are 
the other servants. These are as many as I care to 
contend with, and, though my sister thinks there should 
be one or two more, I have thus far remained obdurate. 
I tried a valet for a time, but soon got rid of him, for 
he was a superfluity, and I found that he wore my 
clothes oftener than I did myself. Lelia has a maid, 
a companion, or nursery governess — I scarcely know 
her exact status. You of course may add any you 
deem necessary to your comfort.” 


98 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ There are enough servants for me to think of,” 
Grace said, laughing; “ you know our small menage 
in Tenbrook, therefore comparisons are odious, as the 
bard of Avon says. There will be nothing for me to 
do, but enjoy myself in the new home! ” 

“ Just that, and be the head of the same. Believe me 
that is no easy position to fill. All day there will be 
questions that only you can answer, orders to be given, 
matters to adjust, but you are equal to anything that 
may arise in the household. You will find that though 
you have efficient servants, there must necessarily be a 
supervision of the whole, an interest in the smallest 
details, else there will be discomfort, and insubordina- 
tion in your realm.” 

“ You do not frighten me.” 

“ I do not wish to do so — only to warn. Mrs. 
Eager is an admirable housekeeper, and requires no 
watching or directing, but she will submit everything 
to your consideration, from the menu of each meal to 
the smallest laundry item, before acting on her own 
responsibility. She knows precisely what is the need 
of the matter in hand, but submits everything to the 
head of the house as a mark of right and deference. 
You could turn over the entire control to her with con- 
fidence — only she will not let you. We have tried it, 
and failed.” 

“ Tell me something of your sister. I am confident 
Mrs. Eager and I shall agree.” 

“ Lelia graduated from Rutgers College, New York, 
and went abroad for recreation and further study with 
an aunt of ours, who is now dead. She met Max Aus 
der Schlogl, an Austrian noble, at Florence. He fol- 


THE WRONG WAY 


99 


lowed her over the continent, and impetuously besieged 
her. She foolishly married him. You may recall the 
notoriety the wedding aroused. This marriage was a 
failure — of course. He wanted her money, and he got 
it. Four years ago he was willing to agree to a divorce, 
because the money was spent, and to give up Elsie. 
We do not know what has become of him since, and we 
do not care/’ 

“ Is your sister a pretty woman, or ‘ a daughter of 
the gods divinely tall and most divinely fair ? ’ ” 

“ She is tall and fair, intellectual, clever, tactful, and 
universally admired.” 

And Elsie?” 

“ She is eight years old and pretty of course, coming 
from handsome parents. You will love her at once.” 

The listener smiled dubiously. She rarely liked peo- 
ple at first sight; before she could feel genuinely 
friendly regard for others she had to know them inti- 
mately for some time. 

“ I hope so. Have you told them all about me? It 
will not be pleasant if we disagree. There must be 
harmony in the family nest, if nowhere else.” 

“ You will like Lelia, and of course there will be 
harmony.” 

He said it in a way that implied the impossibility of 
not admiring his sister. 

“ For she is a lovely woman,” he added; “ and Elsie 
is an interesting youngster.” 

Grace was on the point of speaking when she hap- 
pened to glance down the car, and saw a handsome 
young man coming towards them with the intention 
of speaking either to herself or to her husband. There 


LofC. 


100 


THE WRONG WAY 


could be no doubt about it. He was looking straight 
at them and smiling in a radiant, irresistible way. The 
tall, well-built figure was clothed in faultless style, and 
of all the favored people in the car he was without ques- 
tion the most distinguished. It must be admitted that 
she actually stared at him. A man with perfect face 
and form is not seen every day, therefore she may be 
pardoned the indiscretion. The stranger came up to 
Duncan, laughing. 

“ Why, my dear fellow,” he cried with extended 
hand, and eyeing Grace with curiosity; “ how jolly 
this is! I had no idea you were on the train. I did 
not see you get on. Are you returning home? If I 
had known you were here I should not have lingered in 
the smoking-room.” 

“ I am homeward bound. And you? ” 

“ I too. I was at your house last week. Lelia — Mrs. 
Aus der Schlogl, told me that you had gone to Boston 
on urgent business. We wondered what it could pos- 
sibly be.” 

The husband colored. 

“ I have been in Boston on urgent business. Lelia 
was correct in her statement. Can you guess it, you 
who are so quick-witted? Let me see if you are clever 
at guessing.” 

The gentleman knitted his fine eyebrows, and put on 
a puzzled expression. 

“ I do not unravel riddles,” he said ; “ and I see 
from the look in your eyes that this is a stupendous 
one. Have mercy on me and tell me what mysterious 
thing you have done in Boston. I dare say you are 
in some big deal or other. In this day of trusts and 


THE WRONG WAY 


101 


syndicates one can scarcely foretell what will happen 
next. If you are making heaps of money why not let 
me into the scheme ? ” 

You do not know how to read the mysterious. 
Know then that I am this day a married man. Pray 
allow me to make you acquainted with my wife. Grace, 
I have the pleasure of presenting to you Mr. Chauncey 
Don, an old and valued friend.” 

The gentleman stood in the passage surprised into 
confusion, man of the world though he was. He made 
an effort to say a few words of greeting and felicita- 
tion, but it was a lamentable failure. Grace laughed 
at his comical embarrassment, and the men joined her 
in it, after a slight pause, most heartily. 

“ Yes, I am Mrs. Duncan,” she said; “ and if you 
are an old, dear friend of my husband's I trust you will 
grow friendly towards me in the course of time. You 
are too surprised now to be anything else.” 

“ I assure you I never was more astonished than this 
before. Let me explain myself. I was told nothing 
about this. Lelia nagged me last week, and hinted at 
some event in which we were mutually interested that 
would soon occur. I had no idea it <vas anything of 
this nature. I was to be at your house to-morrow even- 
ing in order to be surprised. We had arranged the 
whole thing; indeed we have a bet up. And I win; 
for now I am in the wonderful secret.” 

“ May we know the bet?” Duncan asked, and she 
fancied he was displeased, though neither voice nor 
face expressed it. 

“ Oh, a supper at Del — 's, nothing more and nothing 
less.” 


102 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Who is Del ? " Grace asked, thus betraying herself. 

“ Delmonico," he answered with an amused glance; 
“ we shall have to introduce you to him — or rather his 
place — as early as practicable/' 

“ Suppose we go some evening this week? " Duncan 
put in immediately; “ after the play, I think will be 
most enjoyable. If you come to the house to-morrow 
evening we can decide upon the theatre and time. Dine 
with us." 

“ Very well. But it is delightfully absurd to be mak- 
ing engagements with you and your wife. I do not 
realize the fact of your marriage at all. It seems as 
though I were simply chatting with old acquaintances 
and that you are still the same. How did you man- 
age the business ? I thought you and I were impervious 
to matrimony, and were totally lacking in the necessary 
courage." 

“ My step in this direction must surely be an incen- 
tive to you, and when I tell the story you will hesitate 
no longer about following my example. Your bach- 
elorhood is at its close." 

That's best which God sends. 'Twas His will; 
it is mine,' " Don quoted with a laugh. 

“ You put it so, but we know that you are a bachelor 
from sheer maliciousness. However, the end of that is 
at hand, and I for one am wickedly glad." 

“ Of course; that is to be expected from you, now 
that you are no longer single and free." 

“ I see Mr. Don goes on the Shakespearean maxim," 
Grace said lightly, though at heart she was not pleased 
with the talk ; “ ‘ A young man married is a young man 
marred.' " 


THE WRONG WAY 


103 


“ But I am not a young man/’ her husband rejoined; 
“ so nobody can apply that to me.” 

“ Well, let us make the best of the situation,” the 
other said with airy grace; “ you are old and married; 
Mrs. Duncan is a woman and married; I am a young 
man unmarried and unmarred as yet. It is a clear case 
for each of us of : ‘ doant meet trubbles hauf way, for 
thare not wurth t’ compliment.’ ” 

This way of putting the matter provoked merriment, 
and from that time on, until they reached New York, 
badinage was the order of the occasion, and conse- 
quently our group in the car corner was a lighthearted 
one indeed. 

In the rush and roar and confusion which met them 
on alighting in the Grand Central depot a liveried serv- 
ant approached Duncan, and informed him that the 
coupe was in waiting outside. 

“ This is your coachman Ogden,” Duncan said to 
his wife, at the same time giving the man their trunk 
checks and directing him to the porter who stood back 
of them loaded down with portmanteaux and wraps. 
And out of the rush and roar and confusion she was 
led to the brilliant light and deafening traffic beyond* 
where a coupe and horse stood to receive her. Duncan 
put her in, and followed himself. Don stood at the 
door laughing and chatting until the coachman came, 
then bade them good-by, and called a hansom. The 
next moment they separated, each going in a different 
direction. 


XI 


The drive from the station to the house was so rapid 
and the life of the street through which they went so 
bewildering that Grace was unable to observe anything 
in particular, though she was excited and interested to 
an unusual degree concerning the city which was to be 
her future home. And above this purely personal feel- 
ing was yet another — strange, indefinable, but fascinat- 
ing — that which every new-comer experiences on 
entering rich, brilliant, stirring New York for the first 
time. Block after block of stately homes, with here 
and there an imposing church rising skyward, and 
smart people going and coming on each side of the way 
passed quickly before her eyes and deepened in her an 
eager, impressed attention. She promised herself that 
when she had leisure to do so she would explore this 
passage again, and give herself the pleasure of a more 
careful, and hence gratifying, observation. 

At last the coupe stopped. Duncan jumped out. 
They were in front of a substantial double house of 
brown stone. On the opposite side was Madison 
square, which even in the cold light of an afternoon in 
early winter appeared attractive. Beyond, tall, white 
hotels reared their heads, and through the leafless trees 
of the square one could see a dense mass of people and 
vehicles moving. And over all came the deep, mysteri- 
ous sound of a great city — that song unlike all other 
songs, and which seems never done. 

104 


THE WRONG WAY 


105 


Unmindful of passers-by he caught her by the hand, 
and hurried up the broad flight of stone stairs. 

“ This is our home,” he said with a laugh and a sig- 
nificant look; “ let us enter it hand in hand. A fig for 
convention ! Dear wife, we are at home.” 

With quickened nerves, and an exquisite rose tint 
in her face, but perfect outward composure, she stood 
at the rich threshold of her new home with him, await- 
ing admission thereto. 

In answer to the loud ring the door was, after awhile, 
slowly opened. An imposing, clerical-looking man in 
black stood in the hallway with a very shadow of a 
smile, which might, or might not, have been intended 
as a greeting. It seemed a piece of impertinence to 
regard this well-dressed, well-appearing dignitary with 
his churchly air in the light of a common, every-day 
menial, but such he was in reality. He was Whiteacre, 
the butler. 

Duncan brushed past him into the wide, handsome 
hallway with that indifferent, superior manner that 
some people reserve for servants, but his wife had a 
kind heart. She bowed and smiled to the personage, 
who looked as though he was about' to pronounce a 
benediction. 

“ Where is Mrs. Aus der Schlogl ? ” Duncan asked 
in the off-hand way that goes with the indifferent, 
superior manner alluded to; “ is she in? Go tell her 
that we are here — that your future mistress and I are 
in the reception-room. And as soon as the luggage 
comes have it at once carried to Mrs. Duncan' dressing- 
room." 

Possibly the butler did incline his slick, smooth head 


106 


THE WRONG WAY 


a quarter of an inch in recognition of the orders, but one 
could not be quite sure of it. She watched him go with 
dignified tread, and admired his figure and manner. 
Yes, he was in charge of a wealthy parish, and now he 
had gone into the vestry — and here she smiled at her 
nonsensical notions, and dismissed them. 

Her husband turned to the left and caught a velvet 
portiere in his hand. 

“ Here/’ he said, drawing it aside and revealing a 
lovely terra cotta interior, “ is the reception-room, and 
our favorite. It is used more than any other room in 
the entire house. To the right is the drawing-room. 
That extends the full depth of the building. We think 
it too stiff and grand for anything save ceremony, and 
so we use it but rarely. Come! ” 

She stepped into the reception-room with him. The 
portiere fell into place. 

He took her into his arms and, holding her so, kissed 
her with a husband's ardor. 

“ I loVe you — I love you ! ” he murmured, looking 
into her eyes; “ dear heart! ” 

The room was all terra cotta and pale blue, with 
here and there a touch of gold; Subdued, rich, every- 
thing was in perfect taste. The walls were covered with 
paintings of the best modern schools and the bric-a-brac 
was of the kind worth having. There was no pinch- 
beck and Brummagen visible. In one of the corners, 
against a terra cotta velvet background gleamed the 
white beauty of a Pysche, the value of which would 
have twice bought out that Tenbrook menage, of pain- 
ful memory. 

“ Do you admire the room ? ” he asked, noting the 


THE WRONG WAY 


107 


wandering glance, and thereupon releasing his wife, 
reluctantly. 

“ Very much — of course.” 

He could say no more, for they heard the sound of 
hurrying feet, of eager, childish feet, coming down the 
stairs with the half skip peculiar to children. 

“ Elsa Aus der Schlogl ! ” he announced with a 
laugh, and then he sighed. 

The portiere was dashed aside and a small, lovely 
child ran in with a shout. She was arrayed in a 
quaintly-made Greenaway gown of black surah with 
white muslin bodice and big puffed sleeves. A clever, 
pretty child she was, after pictures of children of the 
eighteenth century. Her hair was dark brown, her eyes 
looked black/ and the face was regular in all its lines. 

“ Oh — h — h!” she screamed, rushing to Duncan, 
and literally throwing herself at him; “ I am so glad — 
so glad — to see you, lieber Herr Onkel! Kiss me! 
Again. Again. And yet again ! That is so good.” 

He obeyed manfully. 

“ Do not tell,” she continued, and Grace noticed the 
precise way of pronouncing the words, as though she 
were not at home in the vernacular; “I did escape. 
I ran away from the gouvernante and Frau Mama. 
They said I must be vornehm. I do not know the word 
in English. But I ran off when they were not watch- 
ing. You are back for all time now — eh? I do love 
you, Onkel Adam.” 

He permitted her to run on, with an occasional 
caress. By and by, however, she realized that there 
was someone else in the room. She looked round at 
Grace with unconcern, and wriggled out of his arms. 


108 


THE WRONG WAY 


She came over to her and, standing a foot’s space off, 
looked her over calmly, critically. 

“ Is this the Frau Tante? ” she asked. 

Grace laughed at the quaint figure, and held out her 
arms invitingly. She was attached to children, and 
here was a new and interesting type, which would not 
be difficult to love, if that were permitted. 

“ Will you not come to me, my dear? I love little 
girls.” 

Elsie shook her head slowly. 

“ I wish you would,” Grace entreated, her hands 
still extended. 

Elsie again shook her head, and put her hands back 
of her with an air of defiance. 

Duncan’s straight eyebrows met in a frown at that. 

“ Go to your aunt,” he said. 

Most people would have obeyed him at once, for 
there was a sound in his voice that plainly said he 
would not brook disobedience. However, this small 
miss was unlike the general run of people, and to obey 
was a verb always disagreeable to her, so she simply 
looked at him, and, shaking her head, refused point 
blank. 

“ You will not? ” 

“ Nein ” 

“ Why not?” 

“ Because I will not,” and, evidently foreseeing the 
storm before it burst upon them, she added with an 
indescribable gesture of contempt, “ Schoen ist sie ja 
nicht.” 

He sprang forward, and laid his hands on her shoul- 
der by no means gently. 


THE WRONG WAY 


109 


“ You naughty girl!” he exclaimed; “ suppose I 
take you upstairs and chastise you as you deserve? I 
will let you off, if you go this instant to the lady, and 
kiss her, and beg her pardon for being impertinent.” 

“ Ich will nicht.” 

“ Do you hear me? ” 

“ Ich will nicht.” 

“ Oh, let her go, please,” Grace said, laughing; 
“ Elsie and I no doubt will soon be warm friends — 
chums perhaps — who knows ? ” 

“ Translate what you said,” he commanded sternly, 
frowning at the little figure. 

“ Beautiful is she not at all,” the child said promptly. 

“ I thought it was something insolent. Leave the 
room. I shall see your mother about this later on. 
Go!” 

Elsie did not move. 

“ Do you hear me? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Then obey!” 

She flounced out of the room. They could hear her 
running upstairs. Grace laughed, and going to where 
her husband stood, laid her hand on his shoulder. 

“ I did not think you could be so angry,” she said 
lightly; “ and over such a slight thing too. Elsie spoke 
the truth. That is all. I do not mind. I have never 
thought that I was beautiful. You must not mind her 
—a little child.” 

“ She is rude, and she knows better. I do object 
to it.” 

“ Why does she lapse into German when her English 
is so good ? ” 


110 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ It is a trick used in naughty and mischievous 
moods. One can always tell the way the wind blows 
by that.” 

“ There is an advantage in that for those who have 
charge of her. It is a warning — a preparation.” 

“ Elsie has been put to bed,” a low, sweet voice said 
back of them; “ she was exceedingly rude, and Sauer- 
wein and I had to punish her for it. I am sorry.” 

They turned and faced Lelia Aus der Schlogl. She 
was a tall, slender woman of distinction and some 
beauty. The figure clad in a simple white flannel gown 
was the acme of grace; the bare throat, white, round, 
charming; and the face a lovely oval, with straight 
firm nose, bewitching mouth, and full, reddish brown 
eyes. Her complexion was smooth, clear, perfect, and 
without color. 

“ Her hair — how shall I term it but summer sunbeams 
curled ? 

I know ’twould make a hermit gay and win him to the 
world.” 

There was not a little red in the summer sunbeams 
curled, but is that a fault? One is told that some of the 
famous beauties of antiquity possessed this glory, and 
to-day one encounters hundreds of women who, resort- 
ing to chemists, in vain seek to obtain that marvelous 
tinting which Titian immortalized. Lelia Aus der 
Schlogl had it by the grace of God, and she rejoiced 
in her good fortune with unaffected sincerity. It was 
a privilege to be endowed with red hair, and she 
acknowledged that it had taken her farther than any- 
thing else. In a crowd it at once compelled attention, 


THE WRONG WAY 


111 


and made her the most conspicuous woman present. 
Everybody looked at her. And then the other attrac- 
tive points did the rest. 

“ And this is Grace — my sister ?” she said in her 
even, sweet way. And coming forward she embraced 
her in a charming manner, which had taken years of 
European observation to acquire. It was, however, 
perfect now, and the admiration of every body in New 
York, who had the privilege of knowing it. 

“ I welcome you, and admit that it is delightful to 
have my brother married at last. He will be the ideal 
husband, for in him are the makings of that rara avis . 
I know whereof I speak. One does not go through the 
burning, fiery furnace of experience for nothing. 
There are married men and married men, but few true 
husbands. You will have one of these.” 

Her brother laughed, but nevertheless he was pleased 
over what she said. What man would not have been ? 

“ Are our rooms ready?” he asked with a happy 
look at her. 

“ Yes, shall I show you the way? ” 

“ No, I will take Grace up. She will rest awhile 
before dinner, which is at the usual hour — 6 : 30 — I 
suppose? ” 

“ The usual hour. And shall you go to the opera 
this evening? I intended going. Perhaps you prefer 
being alone, together, the first evening? ” 

He flushed, and looked at his wife furtively. He 
was not sure that that arrangement would be satis- 
factory to her. 

“ What shall we do? ” he asked, hoping she would 
decide upon remaining at home with him. She looked 


112 


THE WRONG WAY 


from brother to sister, and back again before speaking. 

“ You place me in a dilemma/’ she said finally; I 
am, as one of you knows, a music enthusiast, and' opera 
is not an every-day matter in my life. Would it be odd 
if we went out in this way on our wedding day? ” 

Lelia Aus der Schlogl laughed. She had a beautiful 
laugh, and liked showing it off. 

“ I should say no,” she answered ; “ you and Adam 
have come home in the good old-fashioned way; there 
is no wedding journey; no fuss and feathers. Nobody 
knows you here, and you might just as well go to the 
opera to-night as stay at home. Think of all the even- 
ings before you, as dear Darby and Joan.” 

The wife colored and felt far from pleased. She sus- 
pected that her sister-in-law in reality did not want 
them to go to the opera. 

“ What is the bill? ” Duncan asked, seeing his even- 
ing gone, and meeting the calamity with fortitude. 

“ Traviata and Cavalleria Rustic ana .” 

Grace’s countenance brightened at the names, and 
that settled the point with her husband. 

“ We shall go,” he said, and he turned to his wife; 
“ come, let us go upstairs. Lelia will excuse us. We 
shall meet again at dinner, and be at the opera 
together.” 

Lelia bowed her bright head, and smiled. Duncan 
and Grace left the room. As soon as the portiere fell 
in place, the smile left the lady’s face, giving way to a 
thoughtful expression. She stood where they had left 
her for some time thinking, perfectly motionless. Lelia 
Aus der Schlogl was well schooled in every respect; 
she was always on guard. It was impossible to tell 


THE WRONG WAY 


113 


from her face what she was thinking as she stood there 
so still. Presently she looked up and laughed softly 
and heartily to herself. What she laughed at was 
beyond conjecture. There had been nothing comical 
in the interview — absolutely nothing of that nature in 
either her brother or his wife. But laugh she did, and 
laughing she left the room for her own part of the 
house. Something really amused her much, whatever 
it was. 

Duncan took his wife up the broad flight of stairs to 
the first landing and into the front room on the left 
side. 

“ This is your room ,” he said; “ and also mine, 
whenever you will let me share it. This is where I 
expect to pass my happiest hours.” 

It was a wide, deep room with windows overlooking 
the square and the vivid hurly-burly beyond, furnished 
in silvery gray and delicate pink, a light, cheery place — • 
a most attractive nest. Here and there were odd pieces 
of graceful furniture, made of white wood and touched 
with silver. On the walls were water colors of sunset 
and sunrise splendor, and lovely pictures of springtime 
both in nature and in love, framed in silver and touched 
with pink. 

On the mantel, on the various tables, on the cabinets, 
wherever a vase or bowl could be placed, were roses — 
the flower of love — all of one variety and that La 
France . They blushed in welcome to the bride. 

“ Dear heart,” he said, in his fond way; “ see, every- 
thing is new here. I had all done as I fancied would 
be your taste. That room beyond is your bed-room, 
and further on is the dressing-room and bath, then 


114 


THE WRONG WAY 


comes my bed-room, and leading out of that to the left 
is my sanctum sanctorum. Come, I will show you the 
way.” 

And with his arm around her waist, he led her 
through the rooms, pausing here and there as they went 
to point out particular features in each. In their way, 
all were perfect and, communicating as they did, 
formed a pleasant and cosy suite. 

His den at the end was a regular man's room, fitted 
up in a way to invite ease. The office desk in one cor- 
ner near the window was perhaps the most conspicu- 
ous piece of furniture in the room. It was covered 
with letters, telegrams, pamphlets, that had come for 
him during his brief absence from home. At sight of 
them a change came over the man. He seemed anxious 
to get to them. Grace read his glance, and saw her 
means of escape. She took action immediately. 

“ Do you not wish to read these? ” she asked, touch- 
ing the letters; “ suppose I leave you for awhile? I 
saw my trunk in the dressing-room, and woman-like I 
am wild to unpack. After that, I can rest awhile before 
dressing for dinner. I shall leave you to yourself and 
to your letters and dispatches. You must wish to be 
alone.” 

She went away before he could deny the imputation. 


XII 


At six o’clock Grace stood at one of the windows of 
her sitting-room dressed for dinner. Time had passed 
quickly in unpacking and getting the bearings of the 
various rooms in the suite. There had not been a sound 
from the sanctum sanctorum at the end; Duncan was 
evidently engrossed in his mail matter. She thoroughly 
enjoyed the time she was left alone, and stood at the 
window in a contented frame of mind, looking with 
interest at the electric lights and the crowd moving in 
two streams, one going, the other coming. 

At last she heard someone moving about in one of the 
distant rooms. It was her husband dressing for the 
opera. 

In twenty minutes she heard him coming, and turn- 
ing round she saw her husband in evening dress for the 
first time. There are some men who show off well in 
the stiff, conventional attire aforesaid, and he was one 
of them. Tall, broad-shouldered, straight-limbed, he 
appeared unusually handsome. His fair hair and white 
skin were accentuated by the black suit, and as she 
looked Grace acknowledged to herself that he was in 
every respect a noble man and of distinguished carriage. 

He stood a short distance from her, smiling at her 
scrutiny. 

“ I am yours,” he said, going to her and kissing her; 
“ and you are mine. And if you are as satisfied with 
me as I am with you, all is well. What have you been 
doing to kill time? Did you need me? ” 

115 


116 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ No, I have made myself familiar with the rooms, 
and gotten along pleasantly by myself, sir. I did not 
pine for you.” 

“You did not? Why, that is treason! But wait, 
in a short time you will long for me — more than I do 
for you. You do not know what a husband really is, 
my dear.” 

“ I am not a sentimental woman.” 

“ I never took you for one. Still you will love me 
after awhile, and I want you to, of course.” And he 
drew her close to him and rubbed his cheek against hers. 

A bell rang. 

“ Dinner ! ” he exclaimed, and he caught her by the 
hand, and ran out of the room down the stairs like a 
young man, laughing gayly all the way. She joined 
in, and when they reached the dining-room door, both 
were flushed and almost breathless. 

The butler threw the door open for them with a 
flourish, all the world as though he were showing them 
to a pew in the centre aisle, and he looked grave at their 
hilarity. 

Duncan did not care, and walked into the room with 
the master’s air. It was a splendid room, and the table 
a rare sight under the great chandelier ablaze with 
light. A modest and trim maid stood in the back- 
ground to assist the butler. Mrs. Aus der Schlogl was 
not present. 

Duncan led his wife to her proper place at the table, 
and seated himself. As the soup was being served, his 
sister entered. 

Grace glanced up, and caught her breath at what she 
saw. If Lelia Aus der Schlogl was fine looking in the 


THE WRONG WAY 


117 


reception-room a brief time ago, she was beautiful now, 
beautiful in an evening dress of black tulle, cut so as to 
show all that was possible of neck and arms. Her skin 
resembled creamy marble, and her neck and arms were 
so exquisitely shaped that one did not wonder that she 
exposed them, but there was so much of them shown 
that for a moment Grace hardly knew where to look. 
It was a distinct shock at first, like a sudden plunge into 
ice-cold water, but when the surprise had passed, she 
looked again, long and critically, and realized that she 
rather liked it. And as she gazed she recalled what 
someone had written about this matter — namely, that 
women who wear decollete gowns comprise three 
classes, but one of which is justified, and wears it with 
propriety. The women “ to the manner born,” edu- 
cated to it, taught the propriety of such exposure along 
with her catechism, wears this dress as a soldier does 
his uniform — as a matter of form, of duty, of neces- 
sity, and of habit. Such women wear this exposeful 
garment with no more notion of indelicacy than is 
entertained by the dusky belle of the Sandwich Islands, 
when she makes her debut in a string of beads, a cotton 
apron, and clinking anklets. 

The second class, not so well warranted in following 
the fashion, are women not educated to it, those whose 
early life and training were not in decollete circles, but 
instead have imbibed much of the puritanism, or prud- 
ishness, or provincialism, if one will, or orthodox teach- 
ing, of modest example and of rural simplicity. 

The woman whose sudden rise in position tempts 
her into an unaccustomed baring of neck and arms 
against her conscience commits an impropriety. 


118 


THE WRONG WAY 


The third class are the vain women, the silly and 
coquettish women, who have perfect figures and mal- 
formed intellects. These are the women who have in 
the eagerness for admiration disgraced the social 
regalia and made it a reproach. 

The important thing is not how the body, but how 
the mind is clothed. When a high-cut mind goes out 
in company with a low-cut dress the world does not 
concern itself with the robe. But a decollete spirit will 
permeate an assembly, though the neckband tickles its 
ears and the wrist-frills mask its hands. 

It was plain to which of these classes Lelia belonged. 
Grace wondered to which she herself would belong in 
the course of time. At present she did not feel that 
she could go out in public as much undressed as this. 

And this was the way these people got ready for 
the opera ! She looked at her husband and at, his sister, 
and understood that she in her heavy black silk — her 
one rich gown — was decidedly out of place. She was 
in what they would consider unpretentious street cos- 
tume. It seemed as though something must be done, 
some explanation offered, an excuse made, and going 
to the opera, as far as she was concerned, abandoned 
until she was able to go in that manner to which they 
were accustomed. She was secretly mortified; her 
soup plate was removed, untouched, and the fish served 
before she took up the thread of what was being said. 

“ Is this another Sauerwein creation? ” her husband 
was asking, looking his sister over in a way that showed 
he liked full dress in women; “ you look well, really 
well.” 

“ Yes, I know I do. Sauerwein has laid down the 


THE WRONG WAY 


119 


law, and limited me to a special line, and this is one of 
her ideas. She declares red-headed people look best in 
black or white, and she will not permit a turquoise or 
an emerald, as you see. I protested, but in vain. How- 
ever, she consented to cut the bodice lower than usual,” 
and the lady smiled complacently, glancing down at her 
shoulders with as keen admiration as an outsider could 
have expressed. 

“ May I ask who Sauerwein is? ” Grace said, rallying 
sufficiently to break what was becoming a tete-a-tete; 
“ I have heard you use the name before.” 

“ Yes, in connection with Elsie perhaps. Sauerwein 
is my companion, maid, adviser, Elsie’s governess — 
what you will. Remind me of it to-morrow and I will 
tell you her story. It is rather interesting, but too long 
and sad for the present occasion, and besides Adam has 
heard it many times.” 

“ Where is Elsie? She is not in bed still, is she? ” 

“ Oh, no; we kept her in bed one hour only as pun- 
ishment for her rudeness, and that subdued her. She 
is not allowed to come to the table and takes her meals 
with Sauerwein. I believe in keeping children back. 
In that respect I am a thorough European. . The truth 
is : I cannot be annoyed by always having her around, 
asking questions, pushing herself forward, and making 
herself obnoxious generally. I am still young enough 
to wish to enjoy my life.” 

“ And she would be a disturbing factor, eh, Lelia? ” 
Duncan laughed; “ what would Chauncey Don and 
the rest do, if she were en evidence constantly? ” 

“ Leave me severely alone, of course, and I should 
not blame them for doing so. Because I have been mar- 


120 


THE WRONG WAY 


ried and have a child, is no reason why I should be 
shelved and not permitted to enjoy the good things of 
life, as I did before those calamities. I do not allow 
Elsie to call me mamma when others are present. I 
am ‘ my dear ’ to her then, or Lelia, but never mother. 
She has a trick of calling me ‘ my dear/ and it is 
fetching at certain times, so I encourage it.” 

At this juncture Duncan said something low to the 
butler and that personage left the room for a few min- 
utes, presently returning and going on with his rites at 
the sideboard with the deft assistance of the maid. 

“ Don of course will be at the opera,” Duncan said; 
“ by the way he dines with us to-morrow, and after- 
wards we must go to some play.” 

“ Have you seen him? ” Lelia asked with surprise. 

“ Yes, he was on our train, and we met. We came 
together to New York, and Grace can tell you what a 
jolly trip we had. You have lost your bet.” 

She laughed. 

“ I do not care if I have. I was only teazing Don, — 
or rather trying to enslave him. That was but a small 
part of the game. And so he was base enough to tell 
you all about our bet ! I shall reward him for that.” 

“ He revealed nothing, that is, nothing you could 
take exception to. Your brother will bear me out in 
this.” 

*“ What do you think of this young gentleman? Is 
he not handsome ? ” 

“ Indeed he is.” 

“ But he knows it quite as well as anybody.” 

“ Why should he not? ” Duncan put in; “ each time 
he sees himself he is reminded of it, and every woman 


THE WRONG WAY 


12 1 


he meets tells him so too. I wonder the flattery paid 
him all his life has not utterly spoiled him. He has 
had more attention than even a belle receives. I could 
many a curious tale unfold in which he has figured as 
the chief person.” 

“ I am aware of it. I could do the same.” 

“ Is he a vain man ? ” Grace asked. 

“ Of course,” Lelia laughed; “ did you ever know a 
man that was not? But this one has reason for being 
vain.” 

“A man as glorious as he is,” her brother said; 
“ may be excused some vanity. Do we not pardon it 
in a pretty woman ? Don has been endowed with face 
and form of uncommon beauty. It is a gift, and he 
well may be proud of it as such.” 

“ And besides that,” Lelia continued; “ he has 
money, he leads the cotillion, he tells society whom to 
receive, what to do, and then helps himself to do it. 
Don is society's thinking machine. You need not try 
to enter society if you are not on his list, for it would 
be useless.” 

“ Is he clever? Does he do anything? ” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ I mean professionally.” 

“ He does not work, if that is what you mean. That 
is beneath him. Don does not belong to the working 
class. He is a gentleman.” 

Grace flushed. She did not know how to take that, 
so she ate her pudding in silence. 

“ He is not a professional man,” her husband 
explained; “ he is merely a rich young fellow, admired 
by the few who go to make up the set to which he 


122 


THE WRONG WAY 


belongs. We will not deceive you, my dear. We are 
not in that set, and probably never shall be. You will 
learn before long that we are not exactly society 
people.” 

“ But we wish to be,” his sister rejoined, “ and we 
shall be. I am determined to be in the set. You may 
watch my rise, if you care to do so. I am going up.” 

“ The opera is part of it, I presume. Now, I know 
why you were so particular about the Metropolitan.” 

“ You are correct in your surmise.” 

“ Well, you must get Grace to assist you. She may 
care for that sort of thing. To-night, however, I have 
a fancy to be with her alone, and you must not mind if 
I gratify myself. We shall see Traviata and Rusticana 
by ourselves.” 

“ I do not understand.” 

“ Oh, you may have the box to yourself, and the 
coupe. I have secured two orchestra chairs, and 
ordered a hansom for Grace and myself.” 

“ Why, what is this? ” she cried, but she was pleased 
with the arrangement; “ I see, you are lovers, and 
wish to be by yourselves, and you are right. It will be 
charming so. You and Grace will have a treat down 
there, and I shall look at you with lively interest. It 
is a little wedding journey. Be sure to point out every- 
thing to her. I shall take Jean Grey with me. I could 
not sit in the box without a woman, you know. Really, 
I envy you your dear expedition. This is your one 
opportunity, for next week you will have to be in the 
box.” 

So she rattled on. But Grace comprehended the true 
reason of the arrangement, and was grateful to her 


THE WRONG WAY 


123 


husband for coming to her rescue in tlrs quiet and 
sensible fashion. He knew, and she knew, that she 
could not go to their opera box dressed as she was, 
and there was no time in which to make a change even 
were it possible. 

“ Thank you,” she whispered, as they left the dining^ 
room. 

He pinched her arm, and laughed down into her 
uplifted eyes in acknowledgment. 

“ It is time to go,” he said. And the three went up 
the broad staircase together, Mrs. Aus der Schlogl leav- 
ing them at their apartments and going up the next 
flight. 

“ Be sure to have a good time ! ” she called out, 
kissing her hand to Grace; “ it is going to be an enjoy- 
able evening, I think.” 

“ Excuse me a moment,” Duncan said, going to his 
bed-room; “ but get ready. The hansom is waiting 
outside, Whitacre says.” 

She donned a jaunty evening bonnet, which fortu- 
nately formed part of her wardrobe, found her wrap 
and gloves, and was in readiness before her husband. 

When he appeared she saw that he had made an 
entire change, and was no longer in full dress. 

“ This is far more comfortable,” he remarked, put- 
ting on his top coat and leaving the rooms with her. 
“ And you and I are in for a jolly evening.” 

She was grateful, but she was unable to express her 
gratitude. There are women and women. This one 
was by nature diffident. She was not ready for the 
occasion with a word, a laugh, a gesture, as Lelia Aus 
der Schlogl would have been. But when they were in 


124 


THE WRONG WAY 


the hansom she ventured to cuddle up to her husband, 
thereby expressing her gratitude more eloquently per- 
haps than any other way would have been — at least 
to him. With a passionate cry he enfolded her in his 
arms. 

The Metropolitan Opera House was blazing with 
lights when they reached it, and throngs were pouring 
into the various entrances. After finding their seats, 
Grace felt that peculiar thrill that immense audiences 
have on the artistic temperament. The house was 
crowded in almost every part. The tiers of boxes were 
but half filled as yet, though it was nearly time for the 
overture. She had never seen such a magnificent opera 
house or such a large audience before, and looking 
about her in silence she felt happy for the time being. 
Duncan sensibly left her alone, being pleased wlith her 
appreciation of the place, undemonstrative though it 
was. He felt that it was sufficient. 

In a delightful trance she listened to the opera. After 
awhile he touched her hand, and following his glance, 
she saw Lelia Aus der Schlogl enter one of the boxes in 
the first tier. She observed her with peculiar interest; 
for next week she would be in the same position her- 
self, and she wished to be initiated in certain directions. 

Lelia entered without her wrap ; she had dropped it 
on a chair by the door. She came forward, and took 
one of the front seats. In the glare of thousands of 
lights, in that mass of people, among the distinguished- 
looking occupants of the boxes her face stood out clear 
and bright, even dazzling. As if magnetized, every- 
body turned, and stared. Yes, she certainly was a most 
beautiful woman, if her hair, nqw light and curling in 


THE WEONG WAY 


125 


a picturesque manner, was red, and the black tulle 
gown cut conspicuously low. 

“ What a stunning woman!” a rude fellow 
exclaimed, turning round. 

“Yes, and look at her frock !” his companion 
answered, peering through his opera-glass. Every- 
body took up his glass and stared. It made Grace 
uncomfortable, but her husband smiled, and did not 
seem to mind. The other women in the boxes were as 
decollete as Lelia, but they were not such striking peo- 
ple otherwise, and hence escaped comment. Her com- 
panion was not pretty. She was, however, extremely 
interesting and sumptuously robed, though nobody 
cared to look at her twice under the circumstances. 

“ Do you think she sees them? ” the girl whispered, 
meaning the staring people. 

“ Yes. She likes it. See how she holds her head. 
Lelia is a success to-night. Sauerwein understands her 
business.” 

Between the opera and that box Grace was unable 
to enjoy herself as much as she had expected. She was 
too much disturbed. If she lost herself in the music it 
was but for a moment. Through it all she knew that 
extraordinary head was shining up there, and against 
her inclination she was obliged to look thither, so the 
interest was divided. Between the acts she saw gentle- 
men passing to and from the box, and finally, among 
them Chauncey Don, who, in his way, was fully as 
remarkable as Lelia. He was quite at home with the 
ladies, and while she was watching them she saw by their 
manner that they were speaking of her, indeed at that 
moment Don and Jean Grey glanced down to a par- 


126 


THE WRONG WAY 


ticular point, indicated by Lelia’s huge black fan. She 
at once fastened her eyes on the stage, and so avoided 
their recognition, which for some reason she could not 
account for was not agreeable to her. 

Don did not come to them between the following 
acts. She expected him, and it puzzled her that he did 
not come. As the curtain fell on the final scene of the 
opera she turned to her husband. 

“ Let us go home,” she said; “ I have had enough.” 

He jumped up beaming. In a few minutes they 
were out in the winter air. He hailed a hansom, and 
soon they were being driven homeward. He held her 
hand close in his, but did not talk. The silence was 
eloquent. She knew he was happy. 

The starlight shone on his fair face as she stood 
beside him in front of his home, while he^paid the cab- 
man and dismissed him. Still holding her hand, they 
ascended the stair. He let themselves in by a latchkey, 
and they went up to their rooms together, he smiling 
as they went. How happy he was ! 

As he closed the door, he held out his arms, saying 
in a whisper : “ Dear heart, alone — at last ! ” 


XIII 


Ten o’clock the next morning saw the husband and 
wife on their way to the dining-room, a distant bell 
having summoned them to breakfast. 

“ I am afraid to go down,” she said, with a rueful 
air, as they left their rooms. 

“ Why?” 

“ Oh, it is an ordeal for me — more or less. And 
Mrs. Aus der Schlogl is a keen observer. And there 
is your butler. He makes me think of my catechism.” 

“ I was never good at my catechism.” 

He laughed at her. 

“ You will not see Lelia. She is never visible before 
twelve, and as for Whitacre, why he is only a servant, 
and does not count. Never consider servants any more 
than you do the furniture in the room. They are not 
required to think or look anything foreign to their 
duties. If they do, it is impertinence, and one dis- 
charges them on discovering it. We pay well for their 
service, and all we ask is their best performance of the 
same. Beyond that they must not go.” 

“ And shall we see Elsie? ” 

“ No. As long as she has been here, I have not seen 
her at this or any other meal. Occasionally Lelia 
allows her to come in as dessert is served.” 

“ She and the governess eat together? ” 

“ Yes. At breakfast I am alone. I make an effort 
to get down town to my office by half-past nine. I 
have many irons in the fire; there are innumerable 
127 


9 


128 


THE WRONG WAY 


questions to decide, and a crowd of people to see me. 
So, until three o'clock, I am busy in my own way." 

“ I shall be up every morning to break my fast with 
you. It will be our tete-a-tete , and we shall make the 
most of it. Besides, I am not used to late hours." 

“ Thanks; I shall expect you. Hereafter breakfast 
will be the pleasantest meal of the day instead of the 
loneliest." 

“ Flatterer ! " 

“ No. I mean exactly what I say, dear." 

“ You are too considerate to say anything else." 

By this time they were in the dining-room where the 
butler received them with an air so churchly that she 
at once sobered down, and took the seat he pulled out 
for her, in silence. For the moment badinage, or any 
chatter for that matter, was clearly impossible, if not 
unseemly. 

Duncan found his place supplied with the morning's 
Tribune , and a few letters. He glanced at the latter 
while butler and maid served the breakfast. 

“ Letters of felicitation," he said, looking at his wife 
with a radiant smile, quite oblivious of the attendants ; 
“ I dare say we shall receive any number now that the 
newspapers have been so explicit in announcing the 
marriage. Shall I read them to you ? " 

“ Spare me. I shall no doubt receive the various 
accounts from Mrs. Larch, who keeps track of these 
things. Her fancy is to preserve all personal mention 
from newspapers in a scrap-book. She has a bulky one 
about herself and Cecily, and prizes it highly." 

“ Shall you have such a book? " 

“ No. It is a foolish thing for anyone to do. I care 


THE WRONG WAY 


129 


nothing for what reporters say about society. I do not 
believe a true society woman — a lady with fine feeling 
— would permit herself to be written up. It is imper- 
tinent to write up one’s toilette or doings the way it is 
generally done nowadays, and I object to it. If I am 
a professional or public character, well and good — per- 
haps — but I am not, and I hope I shall be left severely 
alone by Printing House square.” 

“ But you will not be. You will be constantly in 
print as Lelia is. Every day there is something about 
her. It is the inevitable; you will have to submit as 
gracefully as you can.” 

“ I can request them not to mention me.” 

“Yes; if you see the reporters. That happens, how- 
ever, only now and then. You will have to endure the 
silly descriptions of those people who do not know you 
even by sight.” 

“ I am to be persecuted and made uneasy? Tell me 
what I must do to escape it.” 

“ To escape is impossible. The only thing to do is 
to go on your way calmly, and not mind reportorial 
gad-flies. Do not read the society column, or if you 
do, take what is written as a joke.” 

“ In a word, one must not be sensitive.” 

“ What are you going to do to-day ? I shall be home 
at four, and we can drive in the park and along the 
Riverside drive till dinner time.” 

“ I shall manage to exist until your return. I am 
going to get acquainted with your sister and Elsie. Is 
that not diversion enough for one day? ” 

The butler and maid were out of the room for a 
moment at this juncture. 


130 


THE WRONG WAY 


Duncan came over to her and, leaning down, pressed 
his face against her head with a laugh. 

“ Lelia will take you to the shops, and in that way 
you will become friends. Foreseeing this I have made 
out a check for you. There may be trifles that you 
will like to pick up going from place to place. At the 
large houses, where she buys, we have accounts. Make 
yourself at home, and do as you like in all of them.” 

The servants returned. 

“ I must go,” he announced, standing upright. 

Grace rose, and went with him into the hall to the 
annoyance of the butler, who folldwed to assist the 
master with his top coat, such being an established 
custom of the household. As soon as he had performed 
the service he was told to go. 

“ I shall stand at the door until you are out of 
sight,” Grace said; “ and cheer you on your way.” 

When the butler was past hearing Duncan embraced 
his wife. 

“ Dear heart, think of me as I shall think of you all 
day.” 

He opened the door, and went out into the crisp air 
with a quick, firm step, looking back in a radiant way. 

The coupe and Ogden were at the curbstone waiting 
to take him to his office. In a moment they were gone; 
they were lost in the mighty rush and roar of Broadway 
beyond. She closed the door, and ran upstairs to her 
rooms with a smiling face. She had looked at the 
check which her husband had slipped into her hand 
at the breakfast table and was smiling at the amount. 
It was five hundred dollars. And he had told her this 
sum was for trifles she might like to pick up going 


THE WRONG WAY 


131 


from place to place ! It made her smile, and no wonder : 
she had never had so large an amount of money before, 
and it was all for herself too. 

She no sooner got into her front room than a knock 
sounded at the door and, going to it, she heard Lelia 
Aus der SchlogTs voice outside. 

“Am I too early? May I come in?” she asked, 
opening the door before Grace reached it, and smiling 
in her beautiful way from the threshold; “ I saw Adam 
go. Well?” 

“ Pray come in. I am glad to see you any time.” 

She entered, and closing the door leaned against it, 
still smiling her beautiful smile. She had on a morn- 
ing gown of white, and the wonderful hair was knotted 
high upon her head. Few women appear well in the 
morning light, unless they are young. This one did. 
Her complexion defied the bright light of day as it 
did the gas and electric rays of night : it shone fine and 
perfect, and there was not a line or blemish visible. 

“ Well? ” she repeated, looking her sister-in-law over 
critically. 

“ What do you want me to tell you? What does 
this ‘ well * mean ? I will not answer it, whatever it is. 
Come over here, and sit down. Here is a comfortable 
chair.” And she dragged a rocker forward. 

Lelia seated herself. 

“ What shall we do between now and dinner time ? ” 
she asked; “ have you made any plans? ” 

“ Mr. Duncan will be back at four o’clock to show 
me your park and the Riverside drive. The rest of 
the day is at your disposal. Do with me as you will, 
and I shall be satisfied.” 


132 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ The coupe will be back in an hour, and then we can 
go out, to the shops, if you have no objections. I must 
buy a few things for myself and Elsie to-day.” 

“ I shall be glad to go shopping. I too, must make 
some purchases. And perhaps you will be so good as 
to advise me. I made but little preparation in Ten- 
brook for my new life, and there are many things I 
must get. I must be a credit to my present charming 
surroundings/’ 

“ I shall be delighted to help you spend money. 
Nothing pleases me more, I suppose because I have so 
little of my own to spend. I consider ft a decided form 
of happiness to go into these big shops and buy just 
what strikes one’s fancy. It is pleasure; it is power; 
and both appeal to me.” 

“ I want evening dresses, house dresses, wraps, bon- 
nets — everything in fact, and you must help me with 
your taste in selecting them.” 

“ How delightful this is ! I am wild to be off. It 
will be most agreeable to me to pass the morning in 
this way.” 

“ I shall place myself entirely in your hands, and 
you may do with me as you please. Surely you will 
be able to do something with me.” 

“ I am confident of that, and also that with your 
money we can do a great deal in a few hours. At five 
I must show myself at a reception. Jean Grey receives 
to-day. You saw her with me last night. She will 
call on you soon.” 

“ And what shall we do about luncheon? ” 

Lelia laughed. 

“ I never lunch,” she said; “ for the past two years 


THE WRONG WAY 


133 


I have been compelled to absent myself from the lunch- 
eon table because of a tendency towards embonpoint. 
I have to be careful, or else lose my symmetry, and 
when I lose that I may as well retire altogether. What 
would I be without my figure? You would be aston- 
ished at what I have to undergo in order to stay as I 
am. I am what I am by sheer hard work.” 

“ I suppose you restrict yourself to a meagre bill of 
fare ? ” 

“ No; but I must be careful of my diet. I have a 
list of articles I may and may not eat, and I follow it 
religiously. Shall I give it you against your day of 
obesity? You may need it, you know.” 

“ If you please.” 

And she named the list. 

“ I think you have many nice things to eat and drink 
even if you are limited to that list.” 

“ Two meals per diem , and those particular eatables 
do not make existence hard by any means. To be beau- 
tiful is not the easy thing some folk imagine. Whether 
I am that or not is one thing, but that I am in training 
like a race-horse or an athlete is another, and a stub- 
born fact. However, enough of the personal pro- 
noun for the present. Get ready, and I shall come 
back as soon as I change my frock. Ogden will be here 
presently.” 

She left the room. 

In half an hour she returned, and found her sister- 
in-law ready for the shopping expedition. Directly 
after that they heard the coachman drive up, and stop 
at their curbstone. 


XIV 


Chauncey Don called that afternoon between three 
and four. Just as he was about to touch the electric 
button, the butler opened the door gravely. He had 
seen the gentleman coming, and did not wait for the 
ring. If this dignitary had a favorite among the call- 
ers at the Duncan household — if he had a weakness, 
it was for this radiant child of fortune. He almost 
smiled at sight of him. 

“ How d’ye do?” Don said in his cheerful way, 
which everybody found irresistible; “ does the world 
go well with you, my man? Announce me, please.” 

“ Mrs. Aus der Schlogl is not in, sir. She has gone 
to Mrs. Grey’s.” 

Don smiled, and his face lighted up as if glorified, 
the smile was so dazzling. 

“ Are all the rest out too? I am to dine here to- 
night. Where is your mistress? Is your master 
back?” 

“ Mr. Duncan has not returned from his office. A 
short time ago I heard voices in the reception room. 
Mrs. Duncan may be in there. Shall I see? ” 

“ No, I know the way, and we have already met.” 

And he gave his coat and hat to him and went 
towards the reception-room in that manner which 
showed familiarity with the house and its inmates. 
For a moment he stood at the threshold holding the 
portiere aside, and listened. In the distance he saw 
Grace seated, and before her, with face upraised and 
134 


THE WRONG WAY 


135 


hands clasped in front of her — Elsie Aus der Schlogl. 
This is what he overheard : 

“ I forgive what you did last evening, and you must 
not think of it again. ,, 

“ I was grief-stricken when I returned to myself. 
Frau Tante, I want to be vornehm ” 

“ I am sure you will love me, and I already like you 
so much. I am sorry you had to be punished on my 
account.” 

“ I will obey. I will be good. You were good- 
hearted to send for me. Frau Mama is out, but the 
gouvernante gave me permission to join you, so that 
I might apologize. She also said I might remain a 
time, if I were good.” 

The listener smiled as he stood there hearing the 
child’s precise sentences. 

“I can at times be noble,” she continued; “ Herr 
Papa belongs to the nobility. I do not forget. In this 
country there is no nobility. Some day, when I am 
older, I shall live in my native land, and be at Court.” 

“ Are you not an American ? ” 

“ Oh, no. I was not born here. I have almost royal 
blood — at least from Herr Papa. I go back after a 
time.” 

“ Are you not contented here? ” 

“ At times. I love Herr Onkel, and others. I am 
happy when people do not have the blues. That is 
ever sad.” 

“ The blues!” 

“ Yes, often Frau Mama and the gouvernante have 
the blues for days and do not speak to one another, 
because they have them so bad. I am unhappy then.” 


136 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Well — come, tell me whom you love besides your 
uncle.” 

“ Oh, I do not like to give their names. I used to 
love Herr Don first and best.” 

“ Why is he dethroned? ” 

“ He wants to marry Frau Mama and be Herr 
Papa, but I think one Herr Papa sufficient, do not 
you? I have one in Europe.” 

“ When you crossed the ocean did anybody tell you 
what could be seen by a diver? ” 

“ Oh, no, can you tell me ? Were you ever a diver ? ” 

“ I can tell you what an ocean diver said once upon 
a time. He said certain seas are famous for their fishes 
and many are beauties, being striped bright green, yel- 
low, blue and red. Others have long streamers, and 
look like harlequins and columbines in pantomines. 
And there is the greatest difference between them in 
their habits. Some were shy and darted away on the 
slightest motion, while others seemed to think me a 
huge fish, and came near me, as if curious to see what 
I was like. Among the strange things which may be 
seen by divers is the ocean forest off the eastern coast. 
The sandy bottom there is covered with the hardened 
roots of great trees, and in some instances parts of the 
trunks are standing, showing that the coast there must 
have settled, and that the sea has rolled over the land. 
Some times we go down at night, and then the scene 
under water is a beautiful sight. Every jellyfish and 
living creature seems to be ablaze with light, your rope 
appears to be on fire, and every motion makes the 
water glimmer. The crabs and fishes sparkle, many 
with a light of their own.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


137 


“ Frau Tante, you cannot fool me. No diver told 
you that. I have it in my journal upstairs. The 
gouvernante read it to me the other day.” 

“ Well, I did not say that I heard it, or that I knew 
the diver. How can I interest you, if you are so sharp ? 
I want to win your allegiance, my dear little maid. 
But tell me, have you heard of the dust fairies? ” 

“ Are there any ? ” 

“ But, O ! they’re so wondrously little 
I scarcely can see them at times ; 

And whenever they do ‘ appear to my view 9 
(This I quote from my fairy rhymes) 

And climb up the ladder of sunshine 
That slants through a window or door, 

Why, I take my chance at seeing them dance 
For maybe an hour or more. 

And O ! but the housemaid’s angry, 

And she tries to put them to rout ; 

With her duster in hand, from chair to stand 
She chases them all about. 

And I laugh and I laugh as I watch her, 

For how can the poor thing know 
That they are small elves enjoying themselves 
As they used to a long time ago ? ” 

“ I do not believe there are fairies.” 

“ Really, my dear — ” 

Don laughed, and stepped into the room at this point. 

“ I have come to your rescue,” he said gayly; “ Elsie 
is a veritable tyrant, and she would lead you a dance, 


138 


THE WRONG WAY 


if she could. But I am on the scene in time to protect 
you.” 

“ You are welcome,” Grace said, rising, and blushing 
at the thought of all that he might have overheard; 
“ I was trying to become acquainted with Elsie, and 
resorted to certain ways, in order to reach that end. 
But I am not sure that I have succeeded.” 

“ I think you have. If I am mistaken, then dear 
Elsie is a hardhearted, cruel creature, and I never 
considered her as bad as that.” 

“ I am not bad,” the child put in, with a frown. 

“ Of course you are not. We can have Fraulein 
Sauerwein down to bear you witness, if necessary. 
Do you think she would come? ” 

“ I will go and see, Herr Don. She will tell you 
that I am good.” 

“ Thank you. Perhaps it will be best.” 

Elsie left the room, with an air of conviction and 
importance. 

“ It is too bad to send her to Sauerwein,” he laughed ; 
“ she will not let her come back, and the poor thing 
may make a scene.” 

Grace smiled. 

“ I am earlier than perhaps I ought to be,” he said; 
“ but I like to come to this house whatever the hour. 
And I knew if you and the rest were out I could rest 
and wait until you returned. It is so good to have a 
house like this on your list.” 

“ I look for Mr. Duncan any moment. He is over- 
due as it is. Mrs. Aus der Schlogl is at a reception, 
and will not be gone long. I am glad you feel free to 
come to our house in this way, for it proves that we 


THE WRONG WAY 


139 


are something better than mere fair weather friends.” 

“ Oh,‘ you do not understand how I feel towards this 
house, or anything of the delightful times I have passed 
herein. I regard it in the light of a home. Do you 
know all that that word means to a single man alone 
in the world? ” 

“ Have you no home of your own? ” 

“ None.” 

“ Are there no near relatives — no home ties in your 
life?” 

“ None.” 

“ I recall that somebody said you lived in and for 
the gay world. I had forgotten it for the moment.” 

“ I see I have been under discussion, and I know 
people well enough to know what that means. You 
will permit me to put in a word for myself, under the 
circumstances ? ” 

“ With pleasure.” 

“ I am in the gay world, of course. I am single and 
rich, and I have my own place. I make the most of 
it, and it is exceedingly agreeable. What relatives I 
have are remote, but I have friends that are precious to 
me, and dearer than relatives.” 

“ Are you never dissatisfied with being alone, with- 
out a home, without a profession ? ” 

“ Not at all. Why should I be ? ” 

“ There are noble things you might do.” 

“For example — ?” 

“ I need not enumerate them. Besides, I feel that I 
am not entertaining you as I should. You will find 
me dull.” 

“ You are mistaken.” 


140 


THE WRONG WAY 


She rose, and walked over to the upright piano, and, 
standing in front of it, struck a few chords softly. 

“ I trust you will tell me what I can do to be noble,” 
he said back of her; “ It may be that I am selfish and 
narrow, and useless. I do not deny it. It seems to me 
that a woman sees farther than a man. You are right; 
I am a man of fashion, of the world worldly, a butter- 
fly. It may be that I have a soul. I might be noble 
and good perhaps — if it were worth while/’ 

She went on striking the keys, her head bent. 

“ You love music,” she said, turning and looking at 
him. 

“ Who told you?” 

“ Nobody. I read it in your face. Let me play for 
you.” 

And, without another word, she pulled out the piano 
stool, seated herself, and played Chopin’s Nocturne, 
No. 8, in a manner that would have been creditable to 
Vladimir De Pachmann, the Chopin virtuoso, himself. 
Her touch was firm and sympathetic, and at the. first 
bar, if one knew aught of music, one realized she was 
past the line that separates the professional from the 
amateur. 

Her listener was a musician. There had been a time 
in his life when he thought that he could give up the 
frivolities of society, his butterfly pleasures, and study, 
and be something in the artistic world — indeed he had 
passed four years in music study in Berlin and Stutt- 
gart under renowned pianists, and contrapuntists, and 
had even made one or two public appearances in Leip- 
sic with furore. But he possessed too much money, 
and he loved a gay, careless, life better than the drudg- 


THE WRONG WAY 


141 


ery that must precede art success, and so, he had drifted 
away from those German days, until he was far off, 
and now often found it difficult to believe that he had 
ever lived them. 

“ You see, I was right/' she said, after the final note, 
and looking up at him; “ you do love music. Yours 
is the artistic temperament. What do you think of 
this?” 

And she sang. It was a bit of German song. She 
had a lovely,, velvety contralto, as well trained as her 
fingers. She was something better than a mere parlor 
singer. Her voice was full and clear and strong ; she 
knew how to produce her tones; and her manner of 
enunciating was unaffected, full throated, and hence 
delightful. 

It must be acknowledged that her listener was more 
than surprised. He grew positively enthusiastic, and 
this was a pleasing discovery to Grace; for in her 
reading of his character she had failed to credit him 
with that trait. 

“You have astonished me,” he said; “I did not 
expect to find that you were advanced in music. One 
does not run across true musicians every day. Ama- 
teurs, yes; there are too many of that ilk; but one 
does not count them. Tell me who your master was, 
and how you obtained your musical education.” 

“ It is a long story, and no doubt will tire you.” 

“ I think not. Such matters are deeply interesting 
to me.” 

“ If I were a famous singer, a public musician, per- 
haps there would be some account of what I am about 
to tell in my obituary notices. But I am nothing of 


142 


THE WRONG WAY 


the kind, and few people know anything of it. I do 
not mind your sharing the knowledge. There was an 
eccentric German professor in Tenbrook, who did 
everything for me. I was his favorite pupil. When 
quite a little thing I went to him for piano instruction. 
He used to say I had genius. I do not know whether 
I have or not. There were times, however, when I 
believed him, and then I worked. He taught me how 
to play, to sing, to compose, how to speak German, 
and enough Italian for vocal purposes. Those were 
happy, busy days. Besides these things, he taught me 
patience, bravery, endurance — or, rather, I saw how 
well he bore himself and, by imitating him, learned 
to be what he would have had me be. After awhile 
we planned an enjoyable and useful future together. 
He was to take me to Europe, and bring me out there 
as a singer. He said it was in me to achieve dis- 
tinction in the world of song. Nothing could have 
made me happier than that career. But the professor 
was old, more or less an invalid, and just as we were 
about to undertake the project he fell ill, and died. I 
think sometimes that I should have gone on, even with- 
out him. There is a feeling that I have done both 
himself and myself injustice; that I have taken the 
wrong way.” 

“ Were not your own people jealous of rhe professor, 
and this love for him ? Perhaps, though, they were in 
sympathy with it.” 

“ Jealous! ” she exclaimed, and she laughed; “ Oh, 
no; they could never have been jealous. They did not 
know our plans. The week the professor fell ill he 
intended asking permission to take me to Germany. 


THE WRONG WAY 


143 


But it was not necessary to tell them. He passed away, 
and I was left to get along by myself as best I could/' 
“ And you did not become what he wished you to 
be? Are you content to hide your gifts, and his 
training? What would he say? ” 

She paused before answering the question, and in 
the pause the portiere was drawn aside, and somebody 
stood on the threshold looking at them. 


to 


XV 


It was Duncan. He stood on the threshold for a 
moment, looking at them; then came forward with 
his usual friendliness for Chauncey Don. 

“ I am glad to see you,” he said shaking hands; “ I 
hope Grace has entertained you well. Where is Lelia? ” 

“ She is at Mrs. Grey’s,” his wife answered; “ but 
she said on leaving the house that she had no intention 
of remaining away any length of time.” 

“ I daresay she has simply gone to Jean Grey’s in 
order to be en evidence. Lelia is the kind of woman 
who finds these big receptions stupid. But, my dear, 
you had better get ready. We will excuse you the 
customary five minutes.” 

She bowed to Don, and left the room. 

“ I have promised her a drive this afternoon,” Dun- 
can said as the portiere fell in place ; “ and the team 
is outside waiting. We shall not be gone long. You 
will not mind ? ” 

“ Not in the least. You know that I am at home 
here. And Mrs. Aus der Schlogl will soon be back. 
I can send for Elsie. Or I can go into the library. 
You must have your drive. It will be a rare treat to 
show off the few lions we have to such a new, quick, 
bright intelligence as that of your wife.” 

“ Dp you find her new, and quick, and bright ? ” 

“Yes, and in some respects a gifted personality. 
When you come back, or better still when we are en 
gargon once more, I shall tell you what I mean.” 

144 


THE WRONG WAY 


145 


The husband smiled. He stood in the centre of the 
room, tall and straight, apparently in a cordial mood, 
but he was asking himself all manner of questions. 
He was not exactly entertaining that universal and 
unbidden guest, the green-eyed monster. His dispo- 
sition was not of a jealous bent, and yet he felt uneasy 
at having found his wife and Don together in what 
seemed an interesting interview. The man was young, 
extremely handsome, captivating, perhaps dangerous. 
Well as he knew him, and much as he admired him he 
did not fancy finding him with her teta-a-tete. He was 
a man with a past, with more than one affair of the 
heart. Lelia ought to have been at home to receive 
him. It was provoking of her to be at Jean Grey’s, or 
anywhere else, when he had informed her that they 
might expect him to-day at dinner. 

“ Was my sister here when you arrived? ” he asked, 
rousing himself. 

“No; she had already gone out. I found Mrs. 
Duncan and Elsie together. Elsie has gone up to 
Sauerwein to obtain a certificate of good nature. I 
doubted her goodness — or rather she seemed to think 
that I did — so she seeks proof with which to confuse 
me. 

He colored. Don’s explanations implied that he 
read what was passing in the husband’s mind. 

“ Here is Grace ! ” Duncan said, and she came in 
ready for the drive; a we shall not go far, and you 
will not have long to wait. I do not think we shall 
have time to go out of the park as it is.” 

“ Mrs. Aus der Schlogl will be back any moment,” 
Grace said; “ and is that not worth waiting for? And 


146 


THE WRONG WAY 


besides, she wishes to see you particularly. She told 
me so this morning.” 

She laughed, and left the room with her husband, 
before Don could make any remarks. 

For some time after leaving Madison square there 
was nothing said either by Duncan or his wife. He 
was taken up in managing his horses, two spirited 
bays, which demanded all the skill of an experienced 
driver, while she was quite as absorbed in her way, 
looking at the dwellings, and the people they were 
passing. 

Finally, as they left the main drive in x the park and 
drove along the river side, he turned and looked at her 
with a tender smile. 

She smiled back. 

“ Do you love me? ” he asked. 

“ I will not tell you.” 

“ No?” 

“ No.” 

He laughed, and leaned against her caressingly. 

“ Is it not delightful to be out in the cold air ? ” 

“ The early winter is beautiful.” 

“ We shall drive every afternoon while the fair 
weather lasts. There are some attractive points you 
will enjoy seeing.” 

They went a distance in silence. 

“'How do you like Don on further acquaintance? ” 
he asked in an off-hand way. 

“ I still consider him an unusually handsome man, 
and extremely interesting. . There can be no two opin- 
ions about that. Have you known him long ? ” 

“ Two or three years. We met him first at Mack- 


THE WRONG WAY 


147 


inac Island. Somebody told us to go there — it was 
so new and pleasing, and there was capital black bass 
fishing — and we went, and of all dreary times that was 
the dreariest, or would have been, had it not happened 
that he was there too. He like ourselves had gone 
for bass. It was miserable weather. The Island was 
deserted, and for one week we three were exiles in 
misery. Necessarily we were thrown together, and 
so struck up a friendship. He has been with us ever 
since in quite an intimate way,” 

“ He is a gifted man — at least I judge as much from 
what I have seen. But of course I know nothing of 
him. Where is he from? ” 

“ I do not know — none of us know. I have often 
wondered myself. Some distant southern plantation 
is said to have been the scene of his birth. The rest 
of his life was passed in various schools in this coun- 
try and in Europe, and in wanderings over the world. 
Don is a veritable globe trotter. I have the strangest 
liking for him, I cannot explain it,” 

“ He must have money.” 

“ Heaps of it — at any rate sufficient to give him the 
gratification of every wish.” 

“ Rich, handsome, gifted — and of the world worldly, 
what must his life be ! Is he a good man ? ” 

“ ‘Be thou as chaste as ice, or pure as snow, 

Thou shalt not ’scape the breath of calumny.’ 

Dear, that is one of the sad truths of life. None of us 
escape it.” 

“ And he has not? ” 

“ I did not say so.” 


148 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ I thought you meant that he was no exception to 
the universal rule that you quoted.” 

“ You are a sharp woman, and if I do not watch 
you, you will entangle me. But I am going to be care- 
ful. I am forewarned, and you will not catch me.” 

“ Is he paying your sister attention? ” 

“ Yes, just as dozens of men are. That sort of thing 
is always going on where she is concerned. She can- 
not avoid it, because she is a fascinating woman. She 
does not care to avoid it either. Yes, she and Don are 
together a great deal.” 

“ Would she marry him? Would she marry again 
after the experience she has had? ” 

“I do not know. Some times I fancy she would; 
again I feel that she would not, under any circumstances. 
She had a terrible experience in Europe. There is no 
denying it. Max Aus der Schlogl is a brute, and he 
forced her to undergo all that that kind of a man can 
make a woman undergo. I do not want her to marry. 
I do not approve it, but what have I got to do with it, 
or anybody else for that matter? ” If she will marry 
again, she will, and that is the end of it.” 

“ But why should she? She has Elsie, you, a home, 
the life she likes above all others. Why should she 
care to change? ” 

“ Nobody knows. She loves wealth, power, posi- 
tion, and above everything else she hates her husband. 
In marrying again she would gratify herself to the 
utmost, and spite him.” 

“ But how unworthy a motive like that would be ! ” 

“ True. But unworthy motives sway people as much, 
and perhaps as often, as worthy ones.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


149 


“ Do they love one another ? ” she asked earnestly. 

“ Oh, as to that I cannot say. Love comes in dif- 
ferent ways. One cannot be sure whether it is love 
or not — sometimes. My private opinion in this case 
is that it is not love — as yet. They are friends, are 
taken with one another, and enjoy being together. You 
will see how it is after awhile, and be able to tell me 
whether it is true love, or not more quickly than I — 
stupid male biped that I am — can inform you. Women 
have double vision concerning such things.” 

“ I will use my faculty at once, and enlighten you. 
I consent to being put to the test.” 

By this time they were rushing down Fifth avenue 
homeward. The thoroughfare was crowded with car- 
riages and the sidewalks lined with the usual fashion- 
plate men and women out on dress parade. Dusk had 
come upon the city, and everywhere gas and electric 
lights flashed. 

“ It is time for dinner,” he said, as they passed the 
Vanderbilt houses, urging his horses to greater speed; 
“ if we are not there the moment the oysters are served, 
Whitacre will be intolerably insolent for the rest of 
the evening. I would discharge that fellow, if I could 
replace him within an hour. But it is difficult to secure 
competent butlers, and he is that in spite of his airs.” 

“ After dining, what are we going to do ? ” 

“ I have secured four seats at the Empire. There 
are some of our best theatrical lions there and they 
roar very well in their new play. After seeing them 
we might sup at Delmonico’s. It will not do for you 
to go wandering about the world asking what people 
mean when they allude to Del. No, that will never do.” 


150 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ I daresay not. I felt so stupid after asking that 
question. I must be silent and watch and learn. 
Silence is golden, you know.” 

“ Don is too much of a gentleman to tell. I do not 
think it will get out about you — at any rate, I hope 
not.” 

They came into view of the glittering hotels, the 
moving crowds of Broadway, the trees of the square, 
and of their home. The brightness, the gayety of the 
scene, the rush, the life — all were delightful, and she 
was loath to leave them for the house and the formality 
of dinner and Whitacre. 

However, there happened to be no formality what- 
ever. Everything went with dainty touch. Each one 
was in charming mood, and she remembered that even- 
ing as one of the brightest she had ever known. 

Lelia was radiant, and so was their guest. Even 
Duncan was merry in their company, and once or twice 
Grace sparkled out in conversation in a surprisingly 
agreeable fashion. 

The one solemn person present was the butler, and 
of course no attention was paid him, and soon he was 
out of their sight, for immediately after dinner they 
left the house for the theatre. 


XVI 


Chauncey Don was regarded by people at large as a 
child of fortune. They said in chorus that he had been 
ushered into the world with a crowd of good fairies at 
hand to bless him as soon as he appeared with gracious 
gifts, and the proverbial bad fairy did not put in an 
appearance at all — at least if she did, nobody recog- 
nized her. It was claimed that the aforesaid gifts were 
numerous. He was said to have all the good things 
in life, without a hint of the bad Everything worth 
having was his. He was a man, he was young, hand- 
some, clever, rich. Apparently he had been all his life 
a stranger to the unpleasant and the sorrowful. He 
had no ties; he was his own master. All he had to do 
was to make merry with the gay world. People said, 
with an air that implied perfect knowledge of the sub- 
ject, that he had been orphaned early in life, but other- 
wise his young days had passed by without a cloud, 
save the small clouds that come to childhood for an 
hour, and which are forgotten in the same space of 
time. It was also stated by these well-posted ones that 
he had gone to various schools, finally matriculating in 
a famous university, and, after graduating from thence, 
traveled extensively at home and abroad for several 
years. 

Such were the general facts If one of these well- 
informed persons were pinned down to exact state- 
151 


152 


THE WRONG WAY 


ments, however, nothing further was learned. One 
merely knew what one knew before, viz. : that he was 
Chauncey Don, young, handsome, clever, always eager 
to meet pleasure half way, with ample income to spend 
as fast as possible, in which endeavor he was more suc- 
cessful than in anything else he ever undertook. 

He was received everywhere. He had been long in 
New York, and was of such agreeable and distin- 
guished personality that nobody cared to ask whence 
he came or who he was. The idea that he could be 
anything but of ultra New York was preposterous — he 
was too comme il faut , to be aught else. No man 
dressed as he dressed; no man gave the wine suppers 
he gave; no man led the cotillion as he did; no man 
was better posted on the bagatelles of exclusive society 
than he was; no man talked as well; no man helped 
rosebuds as deftly; no man was as dear to married 
women; no man was as charming to single men and 
girls; in brief, no man in New York society was as 
indispensable as Don. 

It was difficult to see his reason for being with the 
Duncans so much, if he had one. There were innumer- 
able houses on his list more attractive and desirable, 
and among the ultra fashionable people at that. The 
Duncans did not belong to the set to which he was 
attached. He himself made no effort to lead them 
within the holy of holies, and yet he was constantly at 
their house, he accepted their invitations, and they did 
his, and he went about with them everywhere. But 
beyond this there was little, if any progress. Between 
them there was the frankest, the most delightful 
intimacy imaginable. Don’s character was so winning 


THE WRONG WAY 


153 


that it was impossible not to like him, and indeed no 
hard matter to love him. 

Grace put her woman’s wit into play, and tried to 
see if there was love between Lelia Aus der Schlogl 
and Don, but she failed to discover one sentiment that 
could be designated by that tender word. However, 
she learned that they were attracted by one another, 
much together, and doubtless intimate friends. Deeper 
than that she could not go. Lelia was outspoken in 
speaking of him and revealing a thorough knowledge 
of his life. For instance, one morning while on their 
way down town to a mammoth shop their coupe passed 
a hansom, in which they saw him and a stylish young 
woman. Grace leaned forward. 

“ Look, there is Mr. Don ! ” she exclaimed, on the 
point of bowing. Her sister-in-law pulled her back, 
and the hansom was passed without the occupants 
recognizing them. 

“ Why did you do that? ” she asked; “ did you not 
want to see him? You know, you said this morning 
that you had a message for him about to-night.” 

“ Yes, I remember. My note is at his hotel, and he 
will get it in due time, never fear.” 

“ But did you not care to bow to him ? ” she per- 
sisted. 

“Well, no; I did not, under the circumstances. I 
will tell you why. You can stand it. Don, you know, 
keeps in cosy style uptown a bijou flat, of which that 
woman is the mistress. He would not like to have us 
bow when we see him with her.” 

Grace was mute. A peculiar expression was on her 
face. 


154 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ You silly girl! ” Lelia said, striking her hand, and 
laughing ; “ how horrified you look ! Do not mind this 
bit of information. He is no better than the rest.” 

“ Who told you he maintained this uptown estab- 
lishment? ” 

“ Who told me ? Why, I have forgotten. But it is 
true ; you may depend on it. It is no uncommon thing 
for the young men of our world to maintain such estab- 
lishments, or for their elders either. I know several 
that do. Men are men, my dear.” 

“ I shall not like him as well as I did.” 

“ Oh, nonsense! You will like him better than ever. 
This will not make any difference.” 

“ You do not know me, if you think so.” 

That evening she could scarcely look at or speak to 
him, and he noted the change at once. He had sincere 
regard for her. Of all the women he knew — and he 
had known many — this one was without question the 
most interesting to him. She was different from the 
rest, not that she was more beautiful, more accom- 
plished, or more gifted than the others of his rather 
wide acquaintance — for she was in reality inferior to 
several of them. But she was different in that she was 
earnest, straightforward, honest, and besides these 
admirable and rare qualities there was also an intan- 
gible something that drew him to her. He wanted to 
know her, to be with her, to be something to her — he 
knew not exactly what. 

In the course of the evening an opportunity pre- 
sented itself when he felt that he could speak to her 
quietly. Her husband and Lelia were for the moment 
engaged in entertaining two callers, who were stran- 


THE WRONG WAY 


155 


gers to him. He and Grace for a second were left 
together. She made a movement towards the piano. 

“ Pardon me, Mrs. Duncan/' he said; “ but may I 
speak to you ? " 

“ You may." 

“ I fear, — I — I think I have in some way given you 
offense." 

“ Pray, why do you think so? " 

“ I find it difficult to explain myself. On meeting 
you this evening I fancied that you had been offended 
by me. During the evening the fancy deepened, and 
now I feel convinced that I have unintentionally done 
something to displease you." 

“ Your imagination runs riot, Mr. Don." 

“ Nay; I am sure it does not. What is my offense? 
1 will make restitution." 

“ You cannot." 

“ There, was I not right ? I have done wrong some- 
where. You have admitted it, and I shall not rest till 
I know what it is, and have regained your favor." 

“ Are you not jumping at conclusions?" 

“ I think not. Surely you will tell me what I have 
done amiss." 

“ I beg of you to let the matter drop." 

“ I prize your good opinion too highly to forfeit it 
without at least a struggle." 

She looked towards the other occupants of the room 
in despair, seeking a means of escape from this per- 
sistent and dangerous man, but alas ! there was none, 
and what was she to do ? 

“ I had begun to feel that you were a friend," he 
said, watching the glance, and reading the desire to 


156 


THE WRONG WAY 


escape; “ I acknowledge too that this has made me 
proud. You are the kind of woman that can be a true, 
a loyal friend. I hoped such a blessing was to fall to 
my lot. Have I been presumptuous in indulging that 
hope ? ” 

She thought he had, but for the life of her she did 
not see her way clear to telling him so. 

“ In justice you ought to tell what you have against 
me. You ought to give me the chance to clear myself — 
if I can. I demand the chance.” 

She looked up into the handsome face with a start 
of surprise, and realized at a glance that here was a 
nature fully as strong, if not stronger than her own, 
and also that she had permitted the matter to get 
beyond her control. She raised her head defiantly, and 
looked him straight in the eye. However, she immedi- 
ately found that that had no effect whatever. 

“ I demand your reason,” he said. His voice was 
low and steady, and over his face was a strange white- 
ness. “ You have hitherto received me as though I 
was not distasteful to you. To-night I come to your 
house, and I find a radical change. Do you wish me 
to discontinue calling? Have I lost caste in your 
sight?” 

She did not answer, but he read in her face that he 
had, and the determined look in his eyes deepened at 
the knowledge. 

“ I took you for a straightforward woman. I find 
now you can be unkind and hard as well.” 

“ Allow me to speak, before you go any farther,” 
she said; “ I have listened to you in amazement. You 
have said enough — perhaps too much. I see I have 


THE WRONG WAY 


157 


made a mistake. Some women would have been able 
to conceal their sentiments, but I have not learned the 
art of dissembling. I will be sincere. I will prove that 
your opinion of me is just, though flattering. And as 
I am a married woman, the wife of your friend, doubt- 
less you will attribute a right motive to my present 
action. You are correct. There is a change. I do not 
feel towards you as I did yesterday.” 

“ What have I done? ” 

“ A fine sense of intuition has not played you false. 
1 can but admire so keen a faculty. You have read me 
well.” 

“ What have I done? ” 

“ I am not like the women you know. You may 
consider it a matter for regret or not. I have my ideas, 
and I feel acutely where they are concerned.” 

“ Will you never come to the point? What have I 
done? ” 

“ Tell me who that woman was I saw in the hansom 
cab with you this morning? ” 

Don flushed even to his throat. He held his head 
down before her. 

“You are answered,” she said, after a moment’s 
pause; “you will understand, and forgive me. I do 
not feel towards you as I did. I cannot be more 
explicit.” 

“ What are you going to do ? ” he asked, without 
looking up. “ Are you going to tell me not to call? ” 

“ I am going to leave that with you. Do you think 
you can call ? ” 

“ What do you wish me to do? ” 

“ I leave the matter with you.” 


158 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Will you listen to anything that I may say in ex- 
tenuation ? ” 

“ No, I do not see what you could say to which I 
ought to listen. Forgive me, if I have transgressed 
all rules, and said more than I had any prerogative 
to say. But remember that you placed the matter upon 
the footing of friendship, sincerity and truth, and made 
a demand that I could not allow to go unanswered. I 
have tried to be true to myself as a woman and to your- 
self as a man. I do not feel that I have done wrong.” 

“ You have not,” he said, in a half-stifled voice. 

She could not look at him, and she did not feel dis- 
posed to continue the disagreeable conversation, so she 
left him, going over to the piano. She was hardly in 
the proper mood for music, and yet something must be 
done to cover the awkwardness of the moment. As 
she was about to seat herself to play, the callers came 
forward to take leave. This made the desired break, 
and there was a chance to speak to her husband. 

“ Will you excuse us ? ” he said to Don, as soon as 
the callers were gone; “ Grace is not feeling quite her- 
self, and she and I will retire, if you do not mind.” 

“ Leave him to me,” Lelia cried, laughing; “ I will 
see that he is entertained. I have many things to say 
to him, and no doubt he has to say to me. I shall put 
him on the witness stand, and cross-examine him till 
he wishes he had not been born. By-by, dearest Grace.” 

Grace bowed to Don. He returned it, without rais- 
ing his eyes. The next moment he was left alone with 
Lelia Aus der Schlogl. 


XVII 


Jean Grey was one of those clever rattle-brained 
women that infest society. She was no beauty, nor 
even rich, and yet she contrived to be, as she would say, 
in the swim with all the big fish. At all notable gath- 
erings, at every prominent house, she was seen and 
heard. People invited her to their houses, loaned her 
horses and carriages, boxes at the opera, and invariably 
made much of her, whenever the opportunity presented 
itself. And be it said, that opportunity was never by 
any chance lacking. 

The lady, her antecedents, and her surroundings 
were eminently good form. She was a childless 
widow, somewhere — anywhere — between thirty and 
fifty, with an income of a thousand dollars a year. To 
most persons this would seem but a beggarly income, 
but to Mrs. Grey it meant a great deal, and she knew 
how to make it go far. She owned a box of a house 
next to a stable in East Nineteenth street, furnished 
with by-gone odds and ends. 

During the season numerous invitations came to the 
aforesaid box of a house, so the mistress of the same 
was virtually at little expense. It was not a difficult 
matter for such a clever woman to dress well — even 
modishly. She had brains, and knew the shops as well 
as she knew herself, and besides, she was fortunate 
enough to be the recipient of varied gifts from wealthy 
159 


n 


160 


THE WRONG WAY 


friends at holiday time and upon their return from 
London and Paris. 

Why she was courted and favored by the gay world 
was a simple matter. It lay in a nutshell : she was of 
a great and affluent family, now all of the past, except 
herself; moreover, people feared her. She allowed 
herself with perfect impunity the liberty of saying any 
and everything she chose, wherever she went. It was 
a point with her to know her world as thoroughly as 
constant espionage permitted, nothing escaped her vigi- 
lance — and no one woman therein was as intimately 
acquainted with skeletons in the closet as she. And 
she had a trying way of misleading and worrying peo- 
ple, of misunderstanding and misrepresenting^ them 
without warning, or rhyme, or reason. So it never paid 
to snub her, or try to keep her in her proper place. 
Effort in that direction met with disastrous results, so 
by degrees people found it wisest to let her have her 
rope, to invite her to their functions, and generally to 
make the best of a bad bargain. There were a few 
good points about her. For instance, she could be 
called . upon to fill up unavoidable gaps at dinner, at 
small parties, and the like; to go shopping, to hire 
servants, to act as chaperone, to gossip with, and to 
fetch and carry for society. So, she made herself use- 
ful to her narrow world, and it rewarded her as gen- 
erously as it could in return. 

Lelia Aus der Schlogl was a gold mine to Jean Grey, 
and she made herself as indispensable to that lady as 
she possibly could. There was nothing about her that 
she did not understand, at least she fancied there was 
not, and that is half the battle with folk of her ilk. 


THE WRONG WAY 


161 


As far as she was able she endeavored to advance that 
lady's interests socially, and it is to her credit to say 
that she had succeeded rather well up to a certain point. 
Lelia was in her debt, and sufficiently generous to 
acknowledge that fact in graceful and substantial ways. 
Everything in her power she did for this social sponsor 
of hers ; so in that respect there could be no complaints. 

Jean looked forward to doing a good deal for Grace, 
so she tried to ingratiate herself in that quarter too. 
And it was not at all a difficult feat, for the girl found 
much to admire in the gay, erratic butterfly of society, 
and readily yielded to the innumerable advances and 
efforts to please. 

Several days after the embarrassing talk with Don, 
Jean Grey was spending the day at the house on Madi- 
son square. It was a stormy, winter day, and she had 
run in, she said, to find relief from herself. If the 
truth were known, she came to enjoy the warmth and 
glow and comfort of the handsome, spacious house, 
and a delicious luncheon, with either Zinfandel or 
Roderer, sure to be served at noon. 

She passed the day in Grace's sitting-room in gossip 
about everything under the sun, and time went with 
rapidity. 

It was but a matter of course that Don should come 
under the harrow with the rest. He was by far too 
picturesque and conspicuous to escape that fate. 

“ And what of Prince Charming? " Lelia asked care- 
lessly from her nest of silken pillows on the Turkish 
lounge; “ he has not been near us for an age." 

“ He was here last week," Grace said; “ surely you 
have not forgotten ? " 


162 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Last week ! why, that is an age — for him. He 
used to come to this house every other day. Have you 
seen him anywhere, Jean dear? ” 

Mrs. Grey did not answer at once. She sat in her 
rocker, her arms back of her head, musing. 

“ What are you mooning over? ” her friend inquired, 
with a laugh; “ come, out with it, sauce-box! ” 

“ I am thinking of this young man, and in a general 
way of the male biped.” 

“ Well, what of man? You no doubt can give a new 
view of him.” 

“ i The Maker poured an angel in a pan, 

And told the great Michael he might try his skill 
At sub-creating — Michael mused him still, 

And his white hand through his white feathers ran. 
He then of light and sweetness took a span, 

A handful of clean dirt threw in at will, 

Talk, and tobacco, lots of pluck and skill, 

And stirred with melted angel in the pan. 

All these ingredients then he set to tan 
Full fairly in the sun, upon a hill; 

And mused him long and said, “ Create I can, 

But having made, what shall I call this pill ? 

— Both more and less than angels in its plan : 

I will add lots of pie, and call the mixture Man ” J ” 

“ Who dared to perpetrate that ? ” Grace asked, with 
mock indignation. 

“ Oh, a woman — of course; the western woman, 
who wrote so well about Dollard and Tonty.” 

“ But, Jean, I fail to see the connection. What 


THE WRONG WAY 


163 


bearing has this on Don? Do you for an instant 
imagine that he would eat pie? I know he would not. ,, 

“ You asked me if I had seen him. I have. It was 
on the eve of his departure.” 

“ His departure! ” 

“ Yes. He has gone away. You may well be aston- 
ished. He has left town in the midst of the maddest 
whirl. And the Lenten season is still some time off. 
It worried me for a whole day.” 

“ You amaze me, more and more. I fancied you did 
not like Don.” 

“ I do not. I do not like the mysterious. We know 
nothing about him.” 

“ Can it be possible ! ” 

“ It is, much to my vexation. I have tried hard to 
find out who, and what he is, and why he is here.” 

“ Have you never gained any information that sat- 
isfied you? ” 

“ A little — here and there. The moment I learned 
he was going away I grew suspicious, and did not rest 
until I discovered something. That is the way with 
women.” 

“ You really did succeed this time ! This is posi- 
tively exciting. Go on; do not keep me in suspense.” 

“ His establishment up town is broken up, and the 
lady is alone for the present, and for good, as far as 
he is concerned. That is one piece of news.” 

“ Are you not joking? Who has fooled you to this 
extent? ” 

“ I am not permitted to give the name. But my 
information is reliable. The flat is empty ; the menage 
is non est. Don has left town, temporarily, I suppose, 


164 


THE WRONG WAY 


though on this point I cannot offer reliable evidence.'" 

Grace listened in silence. 

“ But can you not tell us whither the gay fellow has 
gone? " her sister-in-law asked, in her bantering way. 

“ He has gone south. You know he is originally 
from the far south." 

“ I have heard something of the kind once or twice 
before." 

“ I know he is, for I have traced his career as far 
as Memphis." 

“ How indefatigable you are in everything you 
undertake ! " 

“ Yes; I myself think I am. I never let go. I do 
not care for this young man, and I mean to know who 
he is before I am done with him." 

“ What has he done to you? " Grace asked quietly. 

“ Nothing. He could not do anything to me. I 
simply want to see him as he is. The New York part 
is only a part. There is more behind, you may be sure." 

a We think him a charming fellow, and hope he will 
return to New York soon." 

“ That is the general wish." 

“ Jean, tell us what you really do know about Don. 
It will be delightful to listen to you this dreary after- 
noon." 

“ I should like to amuse you, Lelia, if I could, but 
there is very little that I can tell. Everybody is famil- 
iar with his career at the university, and in Europe, and 
finally in this city. I, however, try to go further back 
than any of these periods in his life. We are all aware 
of the amount of his wealth, how it came to him, and 
how it is invested." 


THE WRONG WAY 


165 


“ Wait, I am not sure that we are. Please inform 
us.” 

“ I am not inquisitive,” Grace put in; “ I do not care 
for such details. It is nothing to me.” 

“ Well, I am at Memphis at present. I find that his 
parents, estimable people, died one after the other in a 
yellow fever epidemic, leaving him a large estate. The 
executors of the will, or rather the guardian of the boy, 
invested much of the money in Montana, Washington, 
and Minneapolis realty. The investments were judi- 
cious and timely, and he is now nearly a multi-million- 
aire. Some persons are born under a lucky star.” 

“ So his parents are dead ! ” Grace said softly. 

“ Yes. He was a youngster at the time, so he can- 
not know what the loss was. The guardian is living. 
He it is whom Don has left town to see.” 

“ How clever you are! You ought to be a Russian, 
Jean dear.” 

“ Thank you. I have no desire to experience a 
Siberian exile. I am content as I am.” 

“ But where did you learn so much about this beau? 
And how are we to tell what is true and what is false ? 
Are you sure of what you say? ” 

“ Every bit is true,” came the answer, with a little 
frown; “ I will not allow you to question my veracity.” 

“ You must tell me more then, as you gather your 
facts; for I am interested in him, as much as the rest. 
We are fast friends, and what is learned about those 
we like is of interest. Of course, a man like this one 
must have more or less of the romantic in his life.” 

“ I will post you from time to time. I hope to glean 
further in the field, before I quit it. Mrs. Duncan, I 


166 


THE WRONG WAY 


am told that you are a veritable musician. I confess 
that I should never have thought it. You do not look 
like the fraternity a wee bit. Tell me, what do you 
think of this? I am trying to set a poem to music — 
for filthy lucre’s sake.” 

And in a sweet, though thin, treble she sang : 

“ ‘ Over and over the fragrant clover, 

The bees went humming till late, 

And where is the laddy, and what luck had he 
A-wooing his blithesome mate ? 

O hey, O ho ! 

They walk so slow, 

Brown Robin and blushing Bess; 

But what did he say in the wood to-day ? 

I think I will leave you to guess, 

Dear heart, 

I think I will leave* you to guess.’ ” 

“ Let us go down stairs,” her hostess said, rising; 
“ and run over the song with the piano. I will show 
a way to improve the refrain. As it is, it sounds very 
taking indeed. You are really clever. I had no idea 
you were musical.” 

“ I have been at the piano all my life. And lately I 
have thought I could write a song that would strike 
the public, if I tried. Sometimes a solitary woman has 
achieved that distinction. Why not I? I intend at 
least to try. One cannot do less, eh? ” 

This was the way to win the girl, and no one knew 
it better than Jean Grey. She had not been studying 
her subject for nothing. 

Lelia did not follow them to the reception-room, 


THE WRONG WAY 


167 


having an order to give Sauerwein about sewing and 
desire to see what Elsie was doing upstairs. 

So for a few minutes the two women were together. 
Grace stood leaning against the end of the piano listen- 
ing as the prelude to the ballad was played. After a 
succession of showy chords, the player stopped, 
wheeled around, and looked up into her listener’s face. 

“ Before I go on,” she' said quickly; “ I want to say 
I had an object in what I said about Don upstairs. 
My object is this: I do not wish your sister-in-law to 
become infatuated with him. I know she can do better, 
if she cares to try matrimony again. Can I ask you 
to help me ? ” 

“ My dear Mrs. Grey, I do not know what to say. 
Please tell me what you would like to have me do.” 

“ I would have you discourage his visiting this house 
so much. I would have you help me, and also Lelia 
in another way, which I will show you some other time. 
Don is not the man for her. You must admit that.” 

“ I cannot understand your dislike of him.” 

“ Believe me, there is something wrong about any 
man or woman who works so hard to be popular and 
to be above reproach. I suspect this man. If he were 
all right he would not care so much about being a 
leader and being with only foremost persons. He- 
would be there without effort. It would be his due. 
But this man is totally unknown. He comes here, and, 
by deliberate hard work, and cleverness, makes himself 
the centre of the best. For all we know he may not be 
entitled to the name he proudly bears. He may be of 
mixed blood. The south is so far away.” 

That dreadful suspicion was uttered in a whisper, 


168 


THE WRONG WAY 


and Jean Grey appeared to feel it keenly; but it struck 
her listener as the height of absurdity. She laughed 
outright in the speaker's face. 

“ Come, begin the song," she said, quieting down; 
“ it will be pleasanter to me than the eternal Chauncey 
Don. I am weary of the very name. Do not think 
that there is danger for any of our family as far as 
he is concerned. I do not believe Lelia thinks of him 
in the way you intimate. He is only an agreeable 
acquaintance — nothing more. It scarcely matters to 
us who, or what he is. Now, begin." 

And the song was begun forthwith. 


XVIII 


And did it not matter to her who and what Don was ? 
Was she sincere with herself when she said that? 

She had no sooner uttered the unfeeling remark 
than conscience smote her, and she began to think. 
After awhile she found that it did matter. She was 
touched at the evident desire to be a better and purer 
man. He had not hesitated to cut his moorings to the 
old ways, and she had been instrumental in awakening 
the sense of right and honor. He heard; he obeyed. 
There was something frank and honest and noble in 
his readiness to hear and obey. She was a woman; 
she was both flattered and touched by what he had 
done. The past was forgiven him, and he was rein- 
stated in favor. She desired to see him again; she 
wondered what his life was, who his friends were, and 
what he did with his beautiful days. And then around 
him grew charming speculations and romantic ideas, 
until at last just the sound of his name awakened an 
eager interest. It was no longer wearisome to her ears. 

It was some time before he called, but when he did, 
he came with animation, and, if possible, a more engag- 
ing presence than ever. He was resplendent. His 
tailor must have been proud of him. 

It was an afternoon call, and he found nobody in, 
save the mistress of the house. This was what he 
wanted. He was aware that Lelia was out. That 
happened to be a special day at the Academy of De- 
sign, and he had seen Lelia going there in irreproach- 
169 


170 


THE WRONG WAY 


able array with her picturesque little daughter. It 
was but a mere step or two round to the house on Madi- 
son square, and by some lucky chance Mrs. Duncan 
might be at home. 

She was, and the butler looked unusually well- 
pleased to see him, and to announce him. Presently 
he heard her coming. He rose, with hat and cane in 
hand, to greet her. It did not seem credible that it was 
the same woman of ten days ago. Her manner was 
perfect, and the quaint, and somewhat rustic air which 
he had thought so unusual and attractive was quite 
gone. In its place he saw the city air, the elegance of 
a woman of the world, and the dress of the provinces 
was a thing of the past. She stood before him in a 
famous dressmaker’s tasteful creation for the house. 

“ I am glad to see you,” she said, holding out her 
hand; “ I welcome you back to New York, and to my 
home.” 

He looked straight into her eyes with the bright 
glance characteristic of him, without seeing the ex- 
tended hand. Was it intentional or not? She let her 
hand fall, and motioning him to a seat, sought the 
lounge at the opposite side of the room. 

“ I am alone,” she announced; “ Lelia has gone to 
see the Vassili Verestchagin paintings for the hun- 
dredth time. I have gone until I have the horrors 
whenever I see or hear his name. It is a clever idea 
to show the ‘ Angelus 9 in the same collection, is it not ? 
It is like balm after torture.” 

Yes, she had changed. She knew how to sit on a 
lounge, how to hold her hands, and how to talk, and, 
looking at her critically, he detected the influence of 


THE WEONG WAY 


171 


Lelia Aus der Schlogl and Jean Grey. And he con- 
sidered it admirable in its way. 

“ Where have you been?” she continued, in her 
lightest manner; “ your departure was sudden, unex- 
pected. You should have seen our amazement when 
Mrs. Grey told us — and our regret. You have been 
missed.” 

His glance never left her face. 

“ Do you forgive me? ” he asked. 

“ Forgive you! Why, what have you done? ” 

“ Will you not be frank with me again? I am 
grateful for what you did during my last call.” 

She flushed and looked down at her hands. 

“ Pray do not mention it.” 

“ But I must — this once. Afterwards it shall not 
be alluded to again. I have buried my past. I have 
tried to do what you would have me do. I am not 
living as I used to live. I broke it all up, and I went 
home for awhile. I am going to live differently, and 
I shall try to be worthy of taking your hand in greet- 
ing in the future.” 

“ You have been home? ” 

“ Yes; that is, I have been in Memphis. That is as 
much home as any place, I suppose. I was there a few 
years when a boy, but have never lived there since. I 
go occasionally to see some one who has been kind and 
good to me.” 

“I.am glad you went. It no doubt did you good.” 

“ It made me think. I have thought of my life more 
seriously than I have ever done before. And I thank 
you for it.” 

“ You must not blame me.” 


172 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ I do not. I thank you instead, and I am grateful 
that you came into my life in this way. You cannot 
know what I feel to-day. I see how useless and idle 
and bad I was, and I am anxious to do all I can in 
reparation. I am going to be a different man here- 
after.” 

“ I am glad to hear you say it,” she remarked, with 
a strange feeling at her heart. 

“ I am not going to live for the things I once loved. 
I am going to be a man and make my life good and 
useful to others.” 

She sat with her head lowered. She could not speak. 

“ I am young. I have ability. Do you not think I 
may become something worthy, if I make the effort? ” 

“ You are capable of noble things,” she said, not 
daring to lift her eyes; “ I think every human being is. 
The time will come when the world will respect, per- 
haps revere, your name.” 

“ Nothing has arisen in my existence before to make 
me a thoughtful man. I have been looked upon as a 
gay fellow by society, and been petted and spoiled. 
But a change has come. I am no longer satisfied with 
the fripperies of society, and am going to give them up. 
I feel that a man ought to be above such things. You 
have made me think.” 

“ Do you hold me responsible ? ” she asked, not look- 
ing up, while she felt herself tremble. 

“ I certainly do. No woman has dared to take the 
stand with me that you have. On the contrary women 
have undone me. Do you not see how it has been ? I 
have had no family ties; I have had no good influences 
in my life. There was money, no restraint, and I have 


THE WRONG WAY 


173 


been led hither and thither. I do not say that it has 
been against my will. No; I have liked my life, and 
yielded to every phase of it. I cannot lay the blame at 
any one's door. I alone am at fault. I must be just 
and true in all I say." 

Grace looked up. She was afraid, but she felt he 
had said enough, there were misgivings over her listen- 
ing to him. Was it right to listen to him? She did 
not know how to* stop him, or how to get away, and 
as it was she had betrayed an unusual interest and 
agitation during the conversation. What would he 
think of her? Had she been immodest in listening to 
him? 

These queries flashed through her mind, and brought 
indescribable discomfort. For a moment she reclined 
against the silken pillows of the lounge with an over- 
powering sensation of helplessness. If somebody 
would but come, thereby bringing her the means of 
escape and relief! But there was no sign of deliver- 
ance anywhere. 

“Do not look so troubled," he begged; “I assure 
you, you have done nothing with which to upbraid 
yourself. Believe me, I am grateful. I shall endeavor, 
from this d'ay on, to be worthy of your regard. I 
could kneel at your feet, and thank you for what you 
have done for me." 

“ But you must not ! " she exclaimed, terrified, and 
rising in confusion; “ I have done nothing. I do beg 
you to let the matter drop." 

“ I will. And will you be my friend ? — the kind of 
friend that I need more than any one else? " 

“ The way to gain a friend is to be one. Did not 


174 


THE WRONG WAY 


Michelet say that? ” and she rallied sufficiently to look 
into his eyes with a faint smile! 

“ You make me so happy.” 

“ We will be friends, and I will do all that lies in 
my power to help you. Let me say that I value your 
trusting me, that I appreciate your confidence. It shall 
not be abused.” 

“ I have no reason to think it will be. You are a 
good woman.” 

“ I try to be that. I am sure most of us try to 
be good.” 

“ Do you believe in God and in prayer? ” 

“ Oh, yes ! Do not you ? ” 

“ Then remember me in your prayers.” 

“ I will. And you shall go to church with us.” 

Then to her inexpressible relief she heard the butler 
go to the front door to admit some one. The next thing 
she heard was Elsie’s voice. How sweet it sounded! 

“ There is Lelia!” she cried; “and you must stay 
to dinner, and we shall have one of our delightful even- 
ings once more. How pleased Mr. Duncan will be! 
You will stay? Say yes!” 

“ If you wish me to do so — yes, with the greatest 
pleasure.” 

In a moment Lelia came in, holding her daughter’s 
hand. The winter air had tinted her face with exquisite 
color, and she was unusually attractive. 

“ Whitacre gave me the good news,” she said, stand- 
ing on the threshold, the portiere making a rich back- 
ground for her loveliness; “and of course we could 
not wait. Elsie, you may kiss Mr. Don. Your tender 
years will permit that dear privilege.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


175 


The child in her black silk hood and cloak presented 
a quaint figure. She went up to him, and looked into 
his face gravely. 

“ Herr Don, you will kiss me three times if you 
please ! ” 

“ Elsie! ” 

“ Three times, yes. One for Frau Tante, one for 
Frau Mama, and one for me. Is not that vornehm? 
I want to be vornehm ” 

He laughed heartily and, catching her in his arms, 
kissed her with considerable satisfaction. 

“ Shall you kiss that way when we are wedded? ” 
she asked, on being released. 

“ Elsie!” 

“ But my dear, Herr Don and I have long ago 
arranged that we should be married. He is waiting for 
me. Did you not know? I said yes when he asked 
me, and he told me that he should see you, and get 
your consent. I am his brant . I do love him dearly.” 

“ Did he give you a ring? ” 

“ He did. I wear it on my heart.” And to the con- 
sternation of Don and the amusement of the others she, 
after awhile, succeeded in extracting from the bosom 
of her frock a ring suspended on a ribbon round her 
neck. 

“ See, here it is — my lovely ring! ” 

“ This is too much,” her mother said, with mock 
gravity; “I must not give my consent to anything 
that savors of a clandestine nature. My life as a 
mother is trying enough, without that element. No, 
Elsie, I was not aware of your engagement, and I 
should not have allowed it. I do not approve of this 


12 


176 


THE WRONG WAY 


arrangement at all. I have a more enchanting future 
for my little girl. I disannul the betrothal. But you 
may retain the ring as a memento of a bold, bad young 
man.” 

The child did not know whether to cry or laugh. 
She looked at her fiance appealingly. 

“ Do not give me up, my darling,” he said, mis- 
chievously; “ you had better be my wife than any 
other relation.” 

“ I will never give you up, Geliebter ” she said 
soberly; “ we shall meet again. It is only aufwieder - 
sehen, is it not ? 

“ Do not be silly,” her mother said, laughing; “ but 
go to Whitacre, and tell him for your aunt that Mr. 
Don dines with us, and go to Sauerwein. Here take 
my coat and hat with you. Tell Sauerwein that you 
are to come to dessert, if your aunt will be so kind as 
to have you this evening. You have been good to-day.” 

Grace nodded her head in consent, and the child ran 
out of the room with beaming face. As soon as she 
was gone the three burst into laughter, and that placed 
them upon familiar footing again — at least it made Don 
feel at home. 


XIX 


A charming week followed, made up of drives, dim 
ners, theatre parties, two delightful small dances, and 
several Broadway strolls, in all of which Don took part. 
It was sparkling winter weather, and the city was in 
holiday mood. New York was never more attractive 
or more lively, and it was but natural that these four 
persons should form a part of the general jollity, and 
should enjoy a portion of the best offered in the way 
of diversion. 

Grace was like a child in her pleasure and abandon. 
It was a treat to witness her enjoyment of everything 
in her present delightful surroundings. She bloomed 
under these genial conditions into an entertaining 
woman, and an admirable companion. Ready and 
quick to enjoy, each point was seized at once, and the 
most made of it. She accepted her part in the world, 
and played it with dainty, deft touch. Lelia spent 
money for her, and saw that she presented a rich figure 
wherever she went. Between that lady and Sauerwein 
there could be no mistakes in dress. 

She honestly liked the fuss and the parade, because 
she had never had them in her life before. It was 
stimulating, and irresistible to be the central figure in 
a circle, however small that circle was, and she yielded 
to the situation with the grace and beauty of young 
womanhood. What woman — what man for that mat- 
ter — does not relish adulation ? Who is not pleased to 
be loved, to be considered, to be appealed to, to be 
courted, to be admired ? 


177 


178 


THE WRONG WAY 


Here were Duncan loving her with all the fervor 
of his strong manhood, and Lelia paying her every 
delicate attention which a woman of the world has at 
her fingertips, and Don showing a friendly regard. 
No wonder the world was rosy and jocund to a girl 
who had never before been blessed in any pf these 
enchanting phases of life. They were hers now, and 
she basked in them to her heart’s content. 

It is just when poor mortals forget their weary 
round and for a brief moment taste unalloyed felicity, 
that the serpent darts hissing forward, bites, and 
awakens one to bitter realities. No long dreams are 
ever vouchsafed man, and this is but a briery world 
at best. 

In the midst of her happiness came Grace’s sting. 
It happened at the close of the week, as they were one 
evening leaving a notable cafe. A couple of entrancing 
hours had passed at the playhouse, and afterward they 
had some delicacies at the cafe, over which they talked 
with no little animation and repartee. Lelia and her 
brother were at the moment some distance in advance. 
Don was assisting Grace with her wrap, a gorgeous 
affair of crimson and gold and white fur, which was 
as yet too new a thing to be altogether a joy and a 
comfort. A touch, a look, a word, from Don — and 
she was wide awake. There could be no more dream- 
ing for her. 

She looked at him. He returned the look with inter- 
est. She was not mistaken; she had heard aright; he 
meant what he had done. It was a deliberate insult. 

She trembled, and looked down. 

There could be no other explanation of his action, 


THE WRONG WAY 


179 


unless the Jungfraumilch, which they had drunk, were 
responsible. He had insulted her ! It seemed as if the 
guests and waiters in the cafe must be cognizant of the 
outrage. Her cheeks flamed; her heart throbbed with 
violence; her hands shook. She did not know what 
to do. Her husband and sister-in-law were ahead of 
her; she could not attract their attention, without 
placing herself in a conspicuous position; she would 
be forced to suffer Don’s company to the carriage in 
waiting. And every second with him was contamina- 
tion, horror, and disappointment. 

Was it possible? She must be in a nightmare; this 
was some hideous fancy. So she kept saying to her- 
self, over and over again, as she moved across the wide 
shining space by his side. Of course people were star- 
ing, and everybody must know what the man had done 
to her. She should never be able to go out in public 
again. It was all over — this pleasant idling and dream- 
ing of hers. The change had come at last. Good 
things always do come to an end. And she had so few. 

He did not speak. She would not. 

Duncan and Lelia were waiting for them in the cor- 
ridor. She did not hear what was being said. . She 
hurried towards the carriage, and was glad to have her 
husband put her into it out of the glare of the hotel 
lights. 

<c I shall be around some time to-morrow, Mrs. Dun- 
can,” she heard Don call out; “ according to promise. 
Good night everybody, and pleasant dreams ! ” 

The next moment they left him standing at the curb- 
stone. She leaned against her husband, and felt him 
put an arm about her with indescribable comfort. He 


180 


THE WRONG WAY 


rested his head on hers. In front of them gleamed the 
rare white loveliness of Lelia. 

“ Dear heart! ” Duncan murmured, kissing his wife; 
“ what an agreeable evening we had ! I shall always 
remember it with pleasure. Everything was so jolly. 
And dear, old Don — I never knew him to be more 
engaging. One cannot help loving him. He was at his 
best to-night.” 

She wondered what his worst could be. 

Lelia was silent. 

From the cafe to their home was a short way, but 
the drive thither gave her opportunity to think over 
what she ought to do in regard to the man’s misbe- 
havior. She decided that she would not speak of it, 
at least for the present. The revelation would spoil 
their lovely evening, and in her fresh indignation she 
might say more than she ought. It would be better to 
wait, to think the matter over as carefully and calmly 
as possible, and then find some effective means of put- 
ting him in his proper place. There was of course no 
excuse for him. He had gone beyond bounds, and 
violated every canon of honor and good breeding. She 
did not recall a single look or act on her part that could 
have given him provocation for committing this insult. 

Was this his manner of giving up former evil ways 
and being a better and purer man? Was this doing 
good to others? Was this the right course towards 
worthiness ? She did not believe in him now, and that 
interview, during which he seemed so noble, so honest, 
so manly, was after all nothing but a farce. He had 
simply fooled her to the utmost of which he was 
capable, and probably had many a laugh at her expense. 


THE WRONG WAY 


181 


How blind she had been ! He would not dare to come 
to her house to-morrow. That was a bit of bravado, 
characteristic of the fellow. He was daring her. He 
was not ashamed of what he had done. No, he gloried 
in it, up to the last, and it was this that made it so 
terrible. She could have forgiven him, if he were peni- 
tent, but he was not. His glance burned her, until it 
was unbearable. She had never seen such an expres- 
sion before. That look alone was insulting. 

He had placed his hand upon her shoulder, and with 
that in his eyes, he said to her — “ dearest ! ” He had 
no right to do it, and she felt humiliated, insulted, and 
at the same time indignant. The memory of it was 
degrading. It mattered little that lookers-on saw noth- 
ing further than a gentleman assisting a lady with her 
wrap, a radiant smile, and a bent head. She felt that 
the whole world must know what he had done to her. 
To sleep that night was an impossibility. The remain- 
ing hours were given up to going over and over every 
phase of their acquaintance, from his introduction to 
her to the episode in the cafe, in order to discover in 
what particular she had erred in word, look or deed, 
with this man. But she found nothing with which to 
reproach herself. 

Her husband was gone, Lelia was not visible, and 
she was in the library lying down, when Don came the 
next morning. 

She did not hear the bell. The library was in the 
rear of the house, somewhat isolated. It was noon-tide. 

She was wearied out by loss of sleep and much think- 
ing. It was good to be there in the shadowy corner of 
the library where no sounds penetrated, and rest. She 


182 


THE WRONG WAY 


felt secure from interruption. No one saw her seek 
the library, and there were no callers at this time of 
the day. Here she could be alone and at peace for a 
few hours. 

There was a knock at the door. Before she could 
answer, it was opened, and to her amazement she saw 
the man standing there. He came in, and closed the 
door. She half rose from the lounge, speechless with 
surprise. 

“ You must see me,” he said, and the tone of his 
voice was imperative; “ nobody save the butler knows 
that I am in the house.” 

“ I do not wish to see you. Your presence is an 
intrusion, an impertinence, a second insult.” 

“ You must hear me,” he said, and she saw how 
white he was, and relented. He had been so kind, so 
winsome, so gallant, and they had been happy together. 
But all that was over ; those times could never return. 
He had forfeited them by a most unfortunate impulse, 
and their old relationship was forever destroyed. 

“ I do not come to beg your pardon. I meant what I 
said last night.” 

Could she be dreaming? She rose and, leaving the 
lounge, stood with tightly-clasped hands. She turned 
as pale as Don. 

“ There is no excuse. I do not pretend to deceive 
you.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ I mean this, and nothing else — I love you ! I love 
you ! ” 

Oh, the passion with which he said that! It fairly 
burned her. The words struck her as so many blows. 


THE WRONG WAY 


183 


Her face grew paler and yet paler, and she held her 
hands tighter together. She could barely stand. 

“ I love you,” he reiterated in a whisper, fine but 
penetrating. 

“ What have I done that you should degrade me 
so? ” she asked in a half-stifled voice; “ what have 1 
done? Tell me — tell me! ” 

“ You have smiled on me; you have talked with me; 
you have had me with you; you have made me part 
of your every-day life. And I love you. I have loved 
you from the beginning.” 

“ Do you mean to say that I have led you on? ” 

“ Yes, in a measure. I cannot keep my love back. 
Have you not seen it all along? I am yours.” 

“ You must be mad ! ” 

“ I am mad with love for you. But I know that you 
care for me.” 

“ I will not deny it — I did like you. We have liked 
you better than anybody else, but that is over now. 
The end has come.” 

“ You have told Duncan ! ” 

The look was so strange, so terrible, with which he 
accompanied the exclamation that she shook beneath it. 

“ No, I have not,” she said, involuntarily; “but I 
shall do so as soon as he returns. Do you suppose I 
would keep a disgraceful thing like this from my hus- 
band?” 

He said nothing. 

“ I shall tell him,” she went on, gathering strength; 
“ this is too horrible to be concealed. You are a wicked 
man. But because you are, you must not think others 
bad. I deny having led you on in the slightest man- 


184 


THE WRONG WAY 


ner. I will not allow you to accuse me. I am guilt- 
less of what you dare to charge me with. I found you 
on an intimate footing in this household, and, accept- 
ing you as a gentleman and a friend, I accorded you 
interest and regard. Will you venture to say anything 
of me which is foreign to that? ” 

He was silent. 

“ I am bitterly disappointed in you. You have the 
traits of an honorable gentleman : it would be but an 
easy matter for you to be one. Only the other day you 
spoke to me in a way that made me think there was 
something truly noble in you. Why did you deceive 
me? What was your object? You must have had 
an object.” 

Don would not speak. 

“ I am at a loss to account for your conduct. You 
must be beside yourself. What will my husband and 
Lelia say when I go to them? How shall I account 
for your conduct? Oh, do you not realize what you 
have done ? ” 

A pause. 

She moved a step forward. 

“ Let me pass,” she said, with a proud gesture of the 
head; “ I do not wish to prolong a call which should 
not have been paid, and which is but another affront. 
You have forgotten yourself a second time. I shall 
see that the servant does not admit you again.” 

He did not move, but looked her full in the face with 
the expression which hurt her so. 

“ The hour will come,” he said deliberately; “ when 
you will regret what you say to me to-day. And you 
will recall the fact that I love you. You know that 


THE WRONG WAY 


185 


you are fond of me, but at any time you may find me. 
My address is the Albemarle. Come when you will. ,, 

He stepped aside. 

She looked him over from head to foot with scorn. 

“ Coward ! ” she said, and with that parting shot 
she left the room. Upstairs, alone, locked in her own 
rooms, she threw herself on the bed with a sharp cry. 
And then tears came to her relief. 

By mere chance it happened that Lelia saw from one 
of her windows the handsome form of Don coming 
across the square towards their house. She went down 
stairs to meet him. There had been a disputed point 
about a new dance between herself and Jean Grey, and 
she thought of appealing to Don, who was an acknowl- 
edged authority upon these matters. 

At the foot of the staircase she met the butler, who 
informed her that Mr. Don wished to see her in the 
library where he was at present with Mrs. Duncan. 

Between the library and the dining-room there was 
a small, dark passage. Instead of entering by the main 
door, she sought the library by the second entrance. 
She did not get beyond the passage. Here she paused, 
for the magic word, love, sounded through the door, 
and held her spellbound. She heard the man declare 
his passion for her sister-in-law, that he had been 
encouraged in it; that something terrible had been 
done. She heard no more, for a strange thing occurred. 

She fainted, and falling down, lay in a soft heap on 
the floor. When she had recovered consciousness, all 
was silence. She was still in the small, dark passage, 
lying on the floor. The voices had ceased. Don was 
gone. 


XX 


That day was one of Duncan’s early days. Towards 
three o’clock he came home. Grace did not expect 
him so soon, and when he entered her sitting-room, 
she looked up with a startled cry. He appeared bright 
and happy as he stood on the threshold, smiling at her 
pale face. There came in with him a sweet, fresh 
smell of the sunny winter weather outside. He stood 
there so strong, so fair and handsome. 

He held out his arms, and without a word she went 
to him. 

“ Are you not glad to see me? ” he whispered, rub- 
bing his cheek against hers; “ I have been thinking of 
you all day, and I could not stay away from you any 
longer. Dear heart, how I love you ! ” 

She could not speak. 

“ Everything I saw — everything I did spoke of you. 
And at last I gave up the struggle, and ran from the 
office. I wanted you.” 

He drew her close to him, and she felt his heart 
beat. 

“ I have told Ogden to get the team ready. It is a 
glorious afternoon, and a drive in the exhilarating air 
will do us both a world of good.” 

He kissed her on the eyes. 

“ Have you been moping? Or have you wanted 
me?” 


186 


THE WRONG WAY 


187 


“ A little of each/’ she said, with a deep sigh. 

“ What has gone wrong ? " 

“ Oh, several things/' 

“ Come, tell me, here — heart to heart." 

“ I have received a letter from Colorado for one 
thing," she said at random, to gain time and to col- 
lect her thoughts. 

“ Well, that ought not to bring on the blue devils," 
he laughed ; “ I thought all was rose-hued out there. 
What is the matter? And why do they trouble you? 
I fancied they would leave you alone when they got 
what they wanted." 

“ There is nothing wrong in Colorado, I assure you. 
On the contrary everything is, as you say, rose-hued. 
Cecily is most happy and Tejon is, from her accounts, 
a model husband." 

“ What has happened then? Has Mrs. Larch writ- 
ten you ? " 

“ She has. You may read the letter. She has writ- 
ten for my consent to her marriage." 

“ Phew!" 

“ Yes, a three-times millionaire out there wants to 
marry her, and, she writes to say, that she will let him 
do so, if none of her family object. Cecily and Tejon 
are willing, and approve of it, and she wants our 
consent." 

“ Let us wire her to-night to go ahead with our best 
wishes and blessing. And we shall send her a royal 
bridal gift. This is good news." And he laughed 
heartily over it. 

“ But, dear, something else bothers you. Out with 
it, old lady ! Come, whisper it in my ear." 


188 


THE WRONG WAY 


He pressed his ear to her lips, laughing softly as he 
did so. 

She hesitated. 

“ You have been crying,” he said, looking straight 
into her eyes; “ I see tell tale traces. Oh, you silly, 
silly woman! Tell me all about it.” 

And, seeing that she would not speak, he took her 
head between his hands, looked her squarely in the face 
with his clear, glance, and laughed. It was a dear, 
happy laugh. 

She gazed into the fair face, deep down into the grey 
eyes, with a responsive smile. 

“ Dear,” he said with mock solemnity, and kissing 
her between the words; “ the principal element in the 
composition of a tear is water. The other elements 
are salt, soda, phosphate of soda, and mucus, each in 
small proportions. A dried tear seen through a micro- 
scope of average power represents a peculiar appear- 
ance. The water, after evaporation, leaves behind it 
the saline ingredients, which amalgamate, and form 
themselves into lengthened cross lines, and look like a 
number of minute fish bones. The makeup is the same 
whether the tears are for joy or grief. The tears are 
secreted in what are called the ‘ lachrymal glands/ situ- 
ated over the eyeball, and underneath the lid. The 
contents of these glands are carried along and under 
the inner surface of the eyelids by the means of six or 
seven fine channels, and are discharged a little above 
the cartilage supporting the lid. The discharge of tears 
from the lachrymal glands is not occasional and acci- 
dental, as is commonly supposed, but continuous. It 
goes on both day and night — though less abundantly 


THE WRONG WAY 


189 


at night — through the conduits, and spreads equally 
over the surface of the lids. After serving its purpose, 
the flow is carried away by two drains, situated in that 
corner of each eye nearest the nose, into which they 
run, and are called the ‘ lachrymal points.' Now, do 
you comprehend that you have an erudite husband, 
and that it is the sheerest folly to attempt to deceive 
him? " 

“ Where did you gain your learning? I do not 
believe it is anything but that which you have read 
somewhere." 

“ You iconoclast! Do you question my erudition? 
Am I not learned? ” 

Somebody knocked on the door at this juncture. 

He looked up with impatience. He did not like being 
interrupted. He sighed, strained Grace to his side, and 
went reluctantly across the room to the door. On 
opening it he found one of the servants standing in 
the hall. 

“ What is it? " he demanded abruptly. 

“ Mrs. Aus der Schlogl would like to see you, if it 
is convenient, sir." 

“ Very well, after awhile." 

“ She told me to say it was important : that she 
must see you at once." 

“ Say that I will join her immediately." 

He closed the door, and went back to his wife. 

“ Is Lelia ill ? She was not at luncheon, and I have 
not seen her since morning. I got the impression that 
she was out." 

“'We will resume our discussion, dear, some other 
time. But meanwhile get ready for the drive. I will 


190 


THE WRONG WAY 


be back in a few minutes. I shall tell her to wait.” 

He took her again into his arms, and held her so for 
a moment in silence. 

Grace made her toilette, after which she sat down 
upon the lounge near one of the front windows, and 
while putting on her gloves gazed out at the blue sky 
smiling overhead, at the bare trees in the square, and 
the busy, innumerable sparrows hopping about and 
chirping in the Lord’s good light. Beyond the square 
she saw Fifth avenue and Broadway dense and black 
with people and vehicles. The rush and roar came to 
her where she sat. 

Time passed. The light in the west grew brighter, 
and fell in rays over the floor of the room. 

“ The interview is lengthy,” she mused; “it must 
have been important. I trust nothing is amiss. We 
cannot drive far. It is too late.” 

The western light got rosier and rosier. The spar- 
rows kept up their hopping and chirping, and the city 
sang its muffled song. 

At last she heard footfalls. She knew her husband’s 
tread. In amaze she detected a difference in the sound. 
He had a buoyant step, but now it was slow and heavy. 
He came along the hall, as though something might 
be the matter with him. That was the first inkling 
she had of change. With apprehension she turned, and 
watched the door. 

It was opened slowly. He entered with lagging 
steps. She scarcely suppressed an exclamation at sight 
of his face. 

It was altered. It was gray and drawn and old, and 
in each lineament she read grief and horror. 


THE WRONG WAY 


191 


She rose, intending to stand, but fell back, with a 
cry. At that moment her usually fine physical strength 
deserted her, leaving her limbs weak and powerless. 
She saw at a glance that some frightful thing had hap- 
pened. Her heart beat so violently she almost suffo- 
cated. What had taken place? Why was he so 
altered? Had some accident befallen his sister or 
Elsie? 

She locked her shaking hands convulsively together. 
The action made her rally, and lent courage for the 
moment; but she knew that a blow was about to fall. 

“ Shall we not drive to-day ?” she asked, with a 
mighty effort. 

“ We are too late for driving/’ he answered, 
vacantly looking at the slanting rays of sunset light 
that fell from the windows; “ the sun has set. Night 
is almost here.” 

His voice was usually mellow and distinct — a beau- 
tiful voice, capable of varied expression. But it had 
changed; it was hollow and tired and old, quite 
another voice. Each tone knocked pitilessly against 
her heart. 

With dilated eyes she waited for him to speak. If 
it were in the power of a human being to offer her 
everlasting youth, beauty, wealth and pleasure com- 
bined in a supreme gift for one syllable in exchange 
at that moment, she could not have complied. Speech 
forsook her, as physical strength had done — speech the 
most unreliable of all things, the basest of traitors to 
man, in emergency. 

He stood in the centre of the room, looking at but 
past her, oblivious to the pause that followed his 


13 


192 


THE WRONG WAY 


remark. Presently he stirred; he trembled; and 
throwing his arms upward he moaned, as if over- 
burdened with a load of grief. 

“ I have had a talk with my sister,” he said at 
length, pronouncing the words with difficulty. 

He struck his hands, and moved a step forward. 

“ Do you know what she told me ? Can you imagine 
the damnable thing? ” 

“ No,” Grace answered feebly, after a stupendous 
effort to find her voice; “ what is it? ” 

“ When I think of it my brain reels, and I feel that 
I am going mad. Oh, Grace! Oh, God! Oh, my 
wife! ” 

Before she guessed his intention he rushed forward, 
and fell at her feet. He enclosed his arms about her 
knees. He raised his altered face up to hers. 

“ Is it true? ” he asked in so low a tone that even 
she whose ears were strained in agony to catch every 
sound almost failed to hear these. 

“ What?” 

“ Was he here? ” 

“ Who?” 

“ Don.” 

An incoherent ejaculation dropped from her parched 
lips. She pushed him from her, and fell back. She 
trembled, and hid her face from him. 

He shook her, and in an awful voice she heard him 
say : 

“ Answer me, as you hope God to pardon your soul.” 

“ What do you want me to say? ” 

“ Was Don with you this morning? ” 

“ He was.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


193 


There was a fearful cry. Duncan sprang to his feet, 
and ran to a cabinet that stood in a corner of the room. 
A drawer was pulled out and shut. At the sound she 
stretched her hands as if seeking support, and essayed 
to speak, but in vain. The words would not come. 

The sunset tints had faded away, and it was twi- 
light. The room was shadowy, and the friendly dark- 
ness partially hid her husband's tortured face as he 
spoke to her. 

“ I might have known that you and I could not be 
happy together, I old and you young. He is more 
suited to you, and this is the inevitable. But I love 
you better than the whole world, and I was willing to 
take you, though I knew that you did not love as I 
loved. I believed you would. There is always hope 
when one wants one's own way. I hoped you would 
learn to love me as I wanted to be loved." 

All this seemed a part of a frightful dream. It could 
not be real. She would yet awake to find that she had 
been dreaming there alone in the dusk. Was not God 
good and kind ? 

Duncan moved to the door. 

She sprang to her feet, and extended her hands in 
order to detain him. She must speak. An awful 
thought had flashed across her mind. What had he 
taken from the drawer of the cabinet? She remem- 
bered seeing a pistol lying there not long since. 

Would he harm himself? 

“ Where are you going?" she asked, finding her 
voice at last ; “ what is the matter ? " 

“ I am going out on business. I will hear you later 
on." 


194 


THE WRONG WAY 


“ Hear me? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ But what have I done? Why are you so cold, so 
strange, so changed? ” 

“ You know the cause/’ 

“ I do not.” 

“ Do not attempt to deceive me. You have already 
convicted yourself.” 

“ Of what? That Mr. Don was here this morning? 
Yes, I admit that. But what is wrong in that? ” 

“ Enough ! I will come back, and show you what I 
have done ! ” 

And casting a horrified glance at her, he rushed 
through the room, flung the door open, and ran along 
the corridor. She heard him hurry down the stairs, 
and the front door close with a loud noise in its place. 

With indefinable feelings Grace stood where he left 
her, trying to grasp what had occurred. She suddenly 
thought of her sister-in-law. In a minute she had 
lighted every gas jet in the room, and touched the bell. 

Immediately the ring was answered by the butler. 

“ Mrs. Aus der Schlogl — say that I must see her at 
once. Hurry ! ” 

“ She is not in.” 

“ Notin?” 

“ No. ma’am. She went out an hour ago with Elsie 
and the governess.” 

“ Where?” 

“ To Mrs. Grey’s.” 

“ Send for her without delay. Say that I must see 
her. Do not return without her. Be quick ! ” 

“ Dinner is served.” 


THE WRONG WAY 


195 


“ I do not wish dinner.” 

The butler went without betraying the faintest trace 
of surprise or curiosity, too well trained to forget his 
place. He, however, was aware that the entire house- 
hold was disturbed, and that domestic matters were 
amiss. 

In twenty minutes he came back to say that Mrs. 
Aus der Schlogl had gone with Mrs. Grey, and that 
no one could say where they were. 

After receiving the message, Grace dismissed him 
and, throwing herself upon the lounge, she waited as 
patiently as she could. She determined to wait there, 
forever if need be, until somebody came that could 
explain and settle this affair. 


XXI 


Duncan had but one desire, as he left the house and 
hurried across the square, and that was to be with Don 
face to face for five minutes. He went directly to the 
hotel where the man lived. 

The head clerk knew him, and came forward to serve 
him, with a smile. He was able to say that Don was 
not in the hotel, but in Yonkers, where he had gone 
to participate in a social function, and that under the 
circumstances his return to town that night was some- 
what doubtful. 

Duncan recalled having heard of this very enter- 
tainment, and the name of the hostess came readily to 
mind. And, bit by bit, he remembered various facts 
concerning the affair, in particular that Don was to 
lead the german with the young daughter of the house, 
who was one of the rosebud beauties of the season. 

He left the hotel, and called a hansom to take him 
to the. Grand Central depot. On arriving there, he 
encountered delay. He had missed his train; he was 
compelled to wait for the next. However, to the man 
who waits all things come, and this one bided time and 
opportunity with that patience which, absorbing pur- 
poses beget. He should see Don. They must meet — 
ay, they would meet. The hour of reckoning had 
come, and so a slight delay scarcely signified. 

To find the home of so important a family was an 
196 


THE WRONG WAY 


197 


easy matter, especially on the night of a grand ball. 
It was a large, handsome house with spacious garden 
land around it, and in the dense growth of tree and 
bush it gleamed on the present occasion like a jewel. 
Lights flashed from every window, and strains of dance 
music floated out on the still, cold air. 

' He leaned against the iron railing, and looked at the 
guests arrive. Carriage after carriage rattled up in 
rapid procession, and a line of men and women 
stretched from the curbstone to the wide-open entrance, 
made attractive by exotics, and many lights. 

At length with set lips he joined the crowd, and 
reached the door. Here he stopped, took out his card- 
case, wrote on a card, and giving it to one of the serv- 
ants requested him to find Mr. Don immediately. A 
bill passed with the card lent the man alacrity in exe- 
cuting the errand. 

But he did not have to wait. 

The young man appeared at once, somewhat pale 
of face, but superb as to raiment. The beauty of his 
face and form was never more striking and remarkable. 
Duncan gazed at him standing there in the blaze of 
festive illuminations for a second in silence. The 
glance was returned with proud scorn. Don’s eyes 
fairly shot forth contempt and defiance. 

“You want to see me?” he asked in a cool, calm 
voice. His glance struck Duncan like a lash. 

“ I do. Step this way — outside — for a few minutes. 
I shall not detain you long.” 

Don beckoned to a servant and, on his coming, asked 
him to find a hat. The hat was found, and, stepping 
across the threshold he complied. There was not the 


198 


THE WRONG WAY 


faintest trace of reluctance, dismay, nor fear — if any- 
thing, he seemed anxious to comply. Down the broad 
flight of stone stairs, past the coming guests, out of 
the grounds, and some distance along a side street they 
went in silence together. At the corner, where a street 
lamp was stationed, Duncan stopped. Here they were 
as much alone as though within the four walls of a 
room. To the right gleamed the great house, to the 
left the dimly-lighted homes of the neighborhood. 
The one sound was the orchestra. 

The street lamp revealed the white, set faces of the 
men to one another. They stood close together, eye 
holding eye. 

“Were you at my house this morning?” Duncan 
demanded in a low, even tone. 

“ Yes,” was the answer, without a tremor in voice 
or face. 

“ You were with my wife? ” 

“ I was.” 

“ How long?” 

“ Some time. I did not time the call.” 

“ What was the purport of your visit? ” 

No answer. 

He grew paler, and drew near Don. 

“ You refuse to tell? ” 

No answer. 

Like a flash he caught him by the throat and, holding 
him with the grip of death, pushed him against the 
lamp-post. 

The young man did not quail, nor make an effort 
towards resistance. He was known far and near as one 
of the best athletes in New York; he was at any time 


THE WKONGr WAY 


199 


more than a match for Duncan, or any man his equal 
in height and weight, yet now he was strangely passive. 

“Tell me what you did in my house this morning. 
You will have to speak! — or by God ” — and he shook 
Don violently. 

“ Find out from your wife, if you want to know,” 
came the half-stifled words, but the eyes did not fall 
from the face of the other; “would you ask me to 
betray a woman's favor?” 

It seemed then as if the whole world went wrong to 
the husband. A frightful pain seized him at the heart. 

“ Devil ! ” he cried, tightening his clasp about the 
warm, firm throat; “Liar! Coward!” 

“Who told you?” Don asked, with pain and diffL 
culty. 

“ Delia. She went to see you, and at the door over- 
heard what you were saying.” 

Was it possible? There was actually a faint smile 
on his face at the information. 

“It was to be expected,” he said; “no woman 
brooks being supplanted.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ Lelia was my mistress ! ” 

This was a foul lie, told for a purpose, and it did its 
work. 

A cry like that of a wounded animal came from Dun- 
can. He let go his hold on the man's throat. In a 
moment Don felt the cold mouth of a pistol pressed 
against his temple. For him the next second meant 
death. 

“ Proof ! Proof ! ” Duncan cried in an awful voice. 

His face was enough to frighten the boldest nature, 


200 


THE WRONG WAY 


but the fellow before him did not tremble. There was 
nothing unusual about him save the pallor of his 
countenance. 

Don slipped his hand into his breast pocket, and 
extracted therefrom a letter. He held it out. The 
lamplight fell on the hand writing. It was Lelia’s. 

“ This is the proof. For days I have carried it 
about so that you might have it at a moment’s notice. 
Take it. I have done with it.” 

He thrust the letter into Duncan’s left hand. 

“ Read, and learn for yourself what has been going 
on -between your sister and me the past year.” 

The pistol clicked. The young man threw up his 
head, looked him straight in the eye. 

“ I am not afraid,” he said; “ shoot. Take that 
which you gave.” 

Duncan could not speak. His eyes demanded what 
the other meant. 

“ Have you forgotten Agnes Bell? I am her son — 
your bastard ! ” 

The venom with which he spoke was indescribable. 

Duncan staggered back with a hoarse cry. The 
pistol fell to the pavement. 

“What! Will you not shoot? Have I not given 
you enough provocation ? ” 

There was no reply to the taunts. The man stared 
at his son with dilated eyes. 

“ You really have forgotten ! Of course you forgot. 
What was Agnes Bell to you? Will you say you were 
young, that men have these episodes in their lives? 
Perhaps you think that I have no right to hold you 
responsible or to seek revenge. But I am of a different 


THE WRONG WAY 


201 


mind. I have suffered all my life, and I meant to pay 
you back.” 

He spoke with rapidity, with evident relief. 

“ This woman was young and good when you met 
her. True, she was poor, alone in the world, and in a 
measure defenceless. You persuaded her to give up her 
ill-paid drudgery in the country, and seek better pay in 
New York, where you could assist and befriend her. 
She followed your counsel. Did you assist and befriend 
her? Day by day you promised this chance and that; 
you took her about from one place of amusement to 
another, you loaned her money, and when she had 
grown to trust and love you, you made her pay the 
debt. Was anything said of marriage? Nothing defi- 
nite, perhaps. Of course you could not marry a girl 
like that. Afterward she learned this, and what you 
meant to do by her. She disappeared. What became 
of her? Did you care? Did you hunt her up? Had 
you cared to search you might have found her on one 
of the free beds in the maternity ward of a city hos- 
pital where I — your son — first saw the light of day. 
But you did not care what became of her, and she might 
drift whither she would. It was nothing to you.” 

He raised his head with a gesture of scorn and con- 
tempt. 

“ I will tell you what became of her and myself. 
The physician in charge of the ward in which she 
brought me forth was interested in her. His interest 
developed into love, and, strange as it may seem, he 
married her. Quixotic, was it not? . He married her, 
and, claimed me as his child — all for love of her. See 
what love will do — sometimes! This good man took 


202 


THE WRONG WAY 


us away, to a part of the country in which we were 
unknown, and where we could grow up in honor. 
There he became famous and rich, and he and she were 
happy together. They died within a few hours of one 
another. I was left. I bear his name; I enjoy his 
money. I gave him the love I might have given you. 
But my mother did not keep me in ignorance as to my 
parentage. She wanted you and me to meet some day. 
She could not forget, and as soon as I was able to 
understand the story she told it. I know what she 
suffered and I know too what I have suffered.” 

He paused, and drew a deep breath. The weight 
which had lain upon him for years was lessening at 
last. 

“ Can you picture me brooding over this wrong? I 
had no father — I had no name. I was a social outcast. 
If the secret were divulged I should find life unendur- 
able. What did I do ? I studied, I traveled, I courted 
people, I became known. I forced the silly world to 
give all it had to give. I would go only with the best. 
And now I am welcomed everywhere. People seek me; 
they are glad to have me in their homes — I, a man 
without a name, and to-night in that rich house will be 
announced my engagement to the only child of the 
family. It is a family of wealth and place, with a name 
known in English and American history. I enter it, 
and I receive the dearest of their possessions. And 
they are proud over the alliance. Strange, is it not ? ” 

Duncan shuddered. He turned deathly pale, and 
foamed at the mouth. He rushed forward, but before 
reaching his son, he fell down in a spasm. 

“ Lie in the dust,” the young man said, spurning the 


THE WRONG WAY 


203 


figure with his foot, and seeing a conscious look in the 
staring eyes, he continued: “ I sought New York to 
win an enviable place, and eventually to meet you on 
your own ground. It took me six years to obtain what 
I wanted; then I found you. It was not difficult to 
ruin you. Now experience some of the shame my 
mother and I have had to bear all our lives.” 

A groan, a struggle to rise, and the prostrate man 
rolled over in the agony of horrible pain. 

“ Should you want me,” the young man said dis- 
tinctly, bending down to the ghastly face and writhing 
form; “ you can see me at any time. You know where 
to find me. Had you taken my life, the hotel people 
would have discovered all. I left my papers so the 
truth might come out. Pray give my love to Lelia 
and Grace. I must leave you. My fiancee will miss 
me.” 

He hurried away. A low, agonized sound reached 
his ear. He stopped, and listened. 

“ Oh, God; my son! ” 

That was what he heard. 

He laughed, and went on. 


XXII 


Hour after hour passed, and still Grace sat on the 
lounge watching and waiting. No Duncan. No Lelia. 
What could it mean ? Oh, this terrible waiting ! , 

Never in all her life had she experienced a night like 
this. There she sat motionless, wide-eyed. 

At length, towards dawn, she dozed. Exhausted, 
outraged nature reasserted itself, and despite the glare 
of gas light and the uncomfortable position she slept. 
It was fitful sleep, disturbed by a dream in which she 
saw herself going along a familiar Tenbrook street 
to the Herr Professor’s house. He was waiting for her. 
She felt his presence, she heard his voice. She saw the 
well-known music-room, the shabby furniture, the 
piano, the sheets of music and the opera scores. She 
heard him play. She heard herself sing solfeggio. 
After awhile he tried her in opera. She sang a reci- 
tative and an aria, and at the conclusion he wheeled 
round on the piano-stool, looked at her, and clapped 
his hands. His face beamed with delight. 

“ That is excellent/’ he said ; “ you never did better ! 
You are a great singer. It is in you.” 

He rose and, coming over to where she stood, placed 
his hands on her shoulders caressingly. 

“ God has given you a grand voice, and the artist’s 
temperament. Will you be true to your talents? If 
you love your art and remain steadfast to it you will be 
204 


THE WRONG WAY 


205 


a contented woman. But if you are false to it you will 
suffer. Do you not comprehend this, my dear child? 
Art is a jealous mistress. You belong to her, she will 
not brook defection. Do not yield to anybody or any- 
thing that will try to take you from music. Work, 
study, be patient, be faithful, and in the end you will 
have success, fruition, happiness. Remember what I 
say.” 

The dream ended. She awoke with a start. The 
gas-jets still flared, but through the window came the 
rosy light of dawn. The night was gone. 

She lay back among the silken pillows of the lounge, 
and thought of the dream, and what she had done with 
her talents and her life. 

An hour passed. 

There was a knock at her door. She jumped up, 
trembling. At last her husband had come — or Lelia ! 
There would be explanations, and everything would be 
made clear and straight again. 

She smiled, as she bade the person enter, for relief 
was at hand. 

The door opened. She saw the butler, who was 
graver and more sacerdotal than ever in the blush tints 
of early morning. 

“ What is it? Are your master and Mrs. Aus der 
Schlogl back ? ” 

“ No, ma’am. A gentleman has called, and will not 
be denied seeing you.” 

“ A gentleman ! ” 

“ Yes. Here is his card.” 

“ There must be some mistake.” 

“ He asked for you. He says he will wait if you 


206 


THE WRONG WAY 


are not up or ready to receive him. He will not leave 
the house without seeing you. The business is urgent.” 

She took the card and read the name thereon. 

“ I do not know him.” 

“ I knew you were up, so I ventured to disturb you. 
I have been waiting all night for Mr. Duncan myself.” 

“ Where is the gentleman? ” 

“ In the library.” 

“ Say I will see him at once.” 

She gave Whitacre time to deliver the message, and 
then went directly to the library. 

“You are Mr. Prescott?” she said, with a glance 
at the card she held; “ I am Mrs. Duncan.” 

She looked at him keenly, but she had never seen 
him before. 

“ I am a stranger to you,” Mr. Prescott said; “I 
should not have intruded upon you if my business was 
not imperative.” 

“Yes,” she said; “what is it?” 

“ Have you seen a newspaper this morning? ” 

“ No.” 

“ Then I must tell you ! ” he exclaimed, blankly. 

“ Tell me what? ” she asked; “ something has hap- 
pened. You have come to break it to me. What is 
it? Has anything happened to my husband? ” 

He saw that he must speak, and being merciful gave 
his bad news at once. 

“ Your husband is dead,” he said, as calmly as he 
could; “ and I have brought you the papers that were 
found on his person.” 

She looked at him dazed. She did not understand 
the statement but partially for the moment. Suddenly 


THE WRONG WAY 


207 


an alarmed expression flashed across her face. 

“ Mr. Duncan is dead ! ” she said, in a lowered voice; 
“ did he commit — suicide? ” 

“ Oh, no.” 

“ He did not commit suicide. His was a natural 
death. Thank God for that ! ” 

She tottered, and fell. She had fainted. 

In her darkened bedroom she lay prone on the bed. 
Outside, the winter world laughed on in its holiday 
jollity. The incessant chirping of the sparrows in the 
square, the gleam of the cold sunshine, and the city’s 
eternal song caused the stricken woman inexpressible 
torture. She wanted to stretch out her hand and still 
the vivacious hubbub. 

In moving from side to side she touched some papers 
beside her on the bed. There were several letters of 
her husband’s among them one of Lelia’s, a wallet, and 
a morning journal. 

She picked up the latter, and sitting up, read about 
his sudden death in a street at Yonkers. 

And then she took up the letters. Anything was 
preferable to thinking of that awful death. She read 
Lelia’s first. It was addressed to Don, and it seemed 
to reveal an understanding or engagement between 
them, and gave the fact that a marriage between him 
and a young girl of Yonkers had recently been 
arranged, or rumored rather, as most likely to occur 
at no distant date, to which the writer objected. 

The letter explained Duncan’s presence in Yonkers. 
He had gone there to obtain satisfaction from this man 
— it might have been to break off this prospective mar- 
riage, and to compel him to marry Lelia. His strange 
u 


208 


THE WRONG WAY 


words and conduct during the last interview with her- 
self were but the natural results of this state of affairs. 
The woman had confessed to her brother, and he be- 
lieved that Don had divulged the secret to her. Such 
was the view Grace took of the situation; any other 
did not present itself, and she always thought this the 
true one. She took the letter and enclosed it in an 
envelope, which she directed to Lelia. She rang her 
bell. 

“ Has Mrs. Aus der Schlogl returned ?” she asked 
of the maid, who answered the summons. 

“ No, ma’am.” 

“ Have this letter delivered to her at once. You 
will find her at Mrs. Grey’s. You must put it into her 
own hands yourself, and say that I sent it. There will 
be no answer.” 


XXIII 


Immediately after the settlement of her husband's 
business affairs Grace left America. She went to 
Europe to carry out at last her dear, old Herr Pro- 
fessor's plans, and to be true to that talent which God 
had given her, thereby retrieving the mistake she had 
made with her life. 

Eventually she became one of the famous singers of 
the day. Her triumphs, however, were confined to the 
capitals of the old world. She would not sing in 
America. 

The people she once knew drifted gradually out of 
her life. Her step-mother and sister were not in sym- 
pathy with her public career, regarding that a degra- 
dation. They maintained merely a formal relationship 
with her. They were satisfied, and richly placed in 
the world they loved, and she was not necessary to 
them. 

As for the others she had known, they did not cross 
her path again. No doubt they frequently enjoyed the 
privilege of hearing her sing on the European stage, 
for she was too renowned a singer to be passed by, 
and in these days everybody visits the old world nearly 
every year. 

And was Grace happy? Contented, and busy, and 
useful in her chosen sphere, yes; but as to being 
happy — 

Well, happiness is one of those broad, deep words, 
rich with subtle significance, which frequently means 
more than most mortals ever know. 

209 


Evolution-6 WHICH ?— Revolution 


< * HTHE most remarkable, interesting and convincing Treatise on the 
1. ‘Unalienable Rights’ of Man, and the Functions of a Just 
Government, ever written.” 

This great work is a “Study in Governments.” It is written in 
direct, pleasing, simple style so as to be understood by the Masses 
as well as by the Classes, and shows the Faults and Virtues of the 
various Forms of Government as taught by History, from Patriarchal 
times ’till today. It takes up our present form of Government and 
shows its Defects and their Remedy. It Defines, Limits and Ex- 
pounds the Basic Principles on which a Real Republic must rest in 
order to be permanent and prosperous, and treats the General Func- 
tions of such a government in a plain and convincing manner. 

We cannot be blind to the trend of the times. Evolution or 
Revolution is the alternative before us. Which shall it be ? 

Shall we shut our eyes to the lessons of history as did Rome, and 
meet with a like fate? 

Shall we imitate the nations of Europe in their vices and weak- 
nesses, and cultivate fraud and corruption in office as well as in 
business, or shall we return to the simple principles of a pure 
Democracy, and build up anew our government on the foundation 
prepared by the Fathers,— a government for all and not for the few, 
— a government that will grow with the nation’s growth, increase in 
strength as the nation grows stronger and, which resting on Sources 
of its Power, will be lasting, influential, beneficial and a model for 
all time? 

This book cannot fail to interest all thoughtful readers, to create 
unlimited discussion and to give clearer views of the Rights and 
Duties of Governments as well as of Citizens in General. 

'* It is One of the few Books whose 
influence will outlast the Century.*’ 

One La.rge Vol. Cloth $1.50 

At all booksellers or sent prepaid by publishers. 


15he M. W. HAZEN COMPANY 


27 Thames *SY 


JVEW yo*RK. 


JEHOVAH AND LUCIFER 

The Triumph of Good over Evil 

AS SHOWN IN THE 


Historic Course, Sacrti and Profane, of the World’s Creation 
and Progress. 


T HE Wonderful, Fascinating, and Exciting Story of the 
Creation; the Fall; the Promise of Redemption; its 
Historic Course and Fulfillment, and the later Contests 
between the Forces of Good and Evil on Earth, are here told 
with a vividness and force which make the truth more inter- 
esting than fiction, and exert a powerful influence for good. 

It is the united work of four authors (three Ministers — 
Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist — and one layman — Congre- 
gationalism) who touch the “truths of inspiration with a 
reverent, tender feeling of fullest belief in their being from 
Alpha to Omega the very Word of God,” and who write with 
the hope that this book will help to hasten on the time when 
“every knee shall bow.” 

It has already received the heartiest commendations from 
leaders of the various Denominations and from the Press. 
We select a few among many: “I place it next to the Bible 
and it leads up grandly to it. It is so pleasantly written that 
the young read it eagerly.” 

“I have read it twice aloud to my family and it grows in 
interest every time. I wish every family had a copy.” 

“It is more interesting than a novel and holds its interest 
to the end. It will do a great deal of good.” 

“In these days of trashy novels and enervating literature, 
the strong meat of the Word as supplied in this beautiful 
and interesting book, is needed by our Churches as well as by 
the people. Bring it to their notice. They will buy it, read 
it and get great good from its pages.” 

One large Octavo Volume Beautifully Illustrated with 
38 full-page Engravings. 


Cloth, Gold Stamped $1.50 

Half Morocco, Gold Stamped, Marble Edges 1.75 

Full Morocco, Gold Stamped, Gilt Edges 2.25 


At all Booksellers or sent prepaid by the Publishers. 


Uhe M. W. HA^ZEJV COMTAJVy 

27 Thames Street JtEtO ifO'RK 


The R^epviblican Party 

ITS HISTORY, PRINCIPLES 
AND POLICY 

By Hon. John D. Long, Senators Hoar, Lodge, Burrows, Hawley 
and other great Leaders of the Peaty qualified to speak 
with authority. 


A COMPLETE Story of the Nation’s Growth and Prosperity, 
as resting on certain Principles, which are clearly 
stated and applied. 

This book covers a part of our National Life from the 
Foundation of our Government, that is not and cannot be 
properly treated bv the Ordinary Historians, and thus, sup- 
plementing their works, demands a place in every Library 
and Home. 

It contains a History of the growth of Principles, Com- 
plete and Authentic Copies of the National Republican Plat- 
forms, a comparison of their leading features with Statements 
of Principles issued by the Democratic Party, and is a logical 
and concise yet comprehensive History of the United States. 

It has been endorsed by the National Republican Com- 
mittee, the Protective Tariff League, The National Republican 
League, and in general by the Press, as: “In every respect a 
praiseworthy and valuable History.” “The most remarkable 
book of its kind ever published.” “It should be in the hands 
of every citizen who desires to act intelligently.” “An admira- 
ble History.” “It has never been equalled either in intrinsic 
merit or effectiveness.” “A Permanent Contribution to the 
True History of the United States.” “It should be read by 
every American Citizen.” 

One Large Octavo Volume Illustrated. 


Dark Maroon Cloth, with Emblematical Design $1.50 

Half Leather $1.75 


At all Booksellers or sent prepaid by the Publishers. 


IS he M. W. HA^ZEJV COMTAJVy 

4 

27 Thames Street JVEW yOUK 












































:> ■ ■ 































■ 









































■ 




































* 























NOV 10 1904 


\ 


v 




Deacidified using the Bookkeeper proce 
Neutralizing Agent: Magnesium Oxide 


Treatment Date: 



1995 


SEP 

ItaemiEP! 


PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, It 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 















, 

- • 


. 

















. 

* 














If* 

























































































' 
























































































‘ 





